Accuracy study of using CT to delineate tumor target volume of thoracic esophageal carcinoma / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the accuracy of CT with other methods to measure the length of thoracic esophageal carcinoma. Methods 598 patients with thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma were enrolled in this study.All the patients received three-field(cervical,thoracicand abdominal)radical surgery without pre-operative radiotherapy or chemotherapy.The length of each Iesion was recorded and compared by measuring intraoperative specimen,formalin-fixed specimen,X-ray barium meal examination and CT,respectivelv. Results By the measurement of intraoperative specimen,formalin-fixed specimen,Xray barium meal examination and CT,the mean lengths of lesion were(5.22±1.94),(4.28±1.71),(5.12±1.92)and(6.71±2.52) cm,respectively.The measured length was significantly different between intraoperative specimen and formalin-fixed specimen or CT(t=16.01,P＜0.01;t=-15.54,P＜0.01),but not between intraoperative specimen and X-ray barium meal examination(t=1.62,P＞0.05).The measured lengths gradually decreased in the order of CT,intraoperative specimen,X-ray bailam meal examination and formalin-fixed specimen.For different pathological type(except intracavitary type)and different T staging,there was significant difference in lesion length between intraoperative specimen and CT(P＜0.05),but not between intraoperative specimen and X-ray barium meal examination(P＞0.05). Conclusions The length of esophageal carcinoma measured by intraoperative specimen is shorter than by CT,but longer than by X-ray barium meal examination.Specimen could shrink after foriBalin fixation.X-ray barium meal and other examinations should be referred when using CT to delineate tumor target volume of esophageal carcinoma for radiotherapy.