[Characteristics and risk factors of lymph node metastases in esophageal carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the status of lymph node metastases (LNM) of esophageal carcinoma and to identify the risk factors.

Methods: Clinical data of 308 patients who underwent esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy during January 2006 and December 2010 were reviewed. Characteristics of LNM were studied.

[Comparison of mini-probe endoscopic ultrasonography with computed tomography in preoperative staging of esophageal cancer].

Objective: To compare mini-probe endoscopic ultrasonography (MCUS) with computed tomography (CT) in preoperative T and N staging of esophageal cancer, and to find out the MCUS parameters to judge lymph node metastasis for esophageal cancer.

Methods: Thirty-five patients received both MCUS and CT preoperatively, on both of which the T and N stages were determined. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predicting value and negative predicting value were compared with the postoperative pathological results.