Research progress of ultrasonography and computed tomography in the preoperative assessment of cervical lymph nodes metastases of esophageal cancer

【Abstract】Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. At present, the best treatment of esophageal cancer is surgery. For the patients with cervical lymph nodes metastases, threefield lymph nodes dissection is the main solution. Ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) of the neck play a decisive role in the preoperative examinations for patients with esophageal cancer, and should be used as routine examinations before surgery at the qualified hospital in order to improve the accuracy of preoperative assessment of cervical lymph nodes metastases of esophageal cancer and screen potential patients with esophageal cancer undergoing threefield lymph nodes dissection.