[What is the value of tracheobronchial fibroscopy in the assessment of esophageal cancer?].
The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of bronchoscopy in the assessment of resectability of esophageal carcinomas. From 1981 to 1986, 125 patients were referred for a carcinoma of the esophagus. Bronchoscopy was performed in 105 cases. Patients were classified into 3 groups: group I: normal bronchoscopy (58 cases: 55.2%); group II: compression, localized inflammation (35 cases: 33.3%); Group III: invasion (12 cases: 11.5%). Tracheo-bronchial abnormalities were found whatever the site of the esophageal carcinoma: 60% of cases for the upper third, 40% for the middle third and 36% for the lower third. They were significantly more frequent when the esophageal tumor was larger than 5 centimeters. Correlation with CT scan was good in 75% of cases. Sensitivity and specificity of these two exams were similar and they appeared to be complementary. In group I, resection was impossible or palliative for bronchial reasons in 10% of cases, while resection was impossible or palliative in 35% of cases in group II. Lastly, resection was curative in 73.5% of cases in group I and in only 39% of cases in group II. Bronchoscopy must be systematically performed in carcinoma of esophagus. It may predict the palliative nature of resection if abnormalities are present, and may contraindicate the resection when invasion of the bronchial tree is discovered.