Early esophageal cancer is not easily detected by CT (computed tomography), and the most effective test to find cancer cells is the esophageal pull test.
Early CT exams for esophageal cancer are generally not detectable. CT is a tomographic scan that is used for a variety of diseases because of its fast scan time and clear images. The more advanced 64-slice CT has a resolution of about 0.4 mm, which has improved accuracy but is still not the best test for confirming esophageal cancer.
The best test to confirm the diagnosis of esophageal cancer is the esophageal pull-down test to look for shed cancer cells, which is the main tool for screening in areas with a high incidence of esophageal cancer. The best way to confirm the diagnosis of esophageal cancer is to look for shed cancer cells.
So, if a patient has dysphagia, he or she must have an esophageal pull-down test to find shed cancer cells in a timely manner, rather than delaying the diagnosis and treatment by believing in the high resolution of CT examination.