Spectrum of Esophageal Abnormality Seen on Thoracic CT

A variety of diseases involve the esophagus including esophagitis, benign or malignant tumors, varices, and esophageal perforation. We reviewed the thoracic CT of these various esophageal diseases, and classified them by similar CT findings. The CT findings were circumferential wall thickening, nodular wall thickening, abnormal luminal dilatation, fistula formation, and mass or mass like lesion. Although CT alone has limited diagnostic ability in esophageal disease, it may have an important role in diagnosing submucosal dissection, fistula, perforation, and intramural abscess.

CT Findings of Diffuse Esophageal Spasm: Case Report

We report the CT findings of diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) in a patient with dysphagia. Although an uncommon condition, DES should be included in the differential diagnosis if relatively long and symmetric segmental esophageal wall thickening and an epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum are noted at CT.

The Spectrum of Benign Esophageal Lesions: Imaging Findings

Benign esophageal lesions occur in various diseases. Barium studies are useful for the evaluation of mucosal surface lesions but provide little information about the extramucosal extent of disease. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, on the other hand, permit the assessment of wall thickness, mediastinal involvement, adjacent lymphadenopathy, and distant spread. In diseases such as fibrovascular polyps, duplication cysts, scleroderma, trauma, caustic esophagitis, hiatal hernia, esophageal diverticulum, achalasia, and paraesophageal varices, the findings of imaging studies are specific, obviating the need for further invasive diagnostic work-up. The advent of helical computed tomography and its volume data set allows the acquisition of multiplanar images, and magnetic resonance imaging is useful both for this and for tissue characterization. Thus, multiplanar cross-sectional imaging further extends the role of imaging modalities to the evaluation of benign esophageal lesions. Through an awareness of the multiplanar cross-sectional appearances of various benign esophageal lesions, the radiologist can play an important role in the detection, diagnosis, further diagnostic planning, and treatment of the diseases in which they occur.

Esophageal Leiomyoma: Radiologic Findings in 12 Patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to describe and compare the radiologic findings of esophageal leiomyomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chest radiographic (n = 12), esophagographic (n = 12), CT (n = 12), and MR (n = 1) findings of surgically proven esophageal leiomyomas in 12 consecutive patients [ten men and two women aged 34 - 47 (mean, 39) years] were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The tumors, surgical specimens of which ranged from 9 to 90 mm in diameter, were located in the upper (n = 1), middle (n = 5), or lower esophagus (n = 6). In ten of the 12 patients, chest radiography revealed the tumors as mediastinal masses. Esophagography showed them as eccentric, smoothly elevated filling defects in 11 patients and a multilobulated encircling filling defect in one. In 11 of the 12 patients, enhanced CT scans revealed a smooth (n = 9) or lobulated (n = 2) tumor margin, and attenuation was homogeneously low (n = 7) or iso (n = 4). In one patient, the tumor signal seen on T2-weighted MR images was slightly high. CONCLUSION: Esophageal leiomyomas, located mainly in the middle or distal esophagus, are consistently shown by esophagography to be mainly eccentrically elevated filling defects and at CT, lesions showing homogeneous low or isoattenuation are demonstrated.

Esophagographic Findings of Early Esophageal Cancer: Comparison with Pathologic Results

PURPOSE: To investigate the esophagographic findings of early esophageal cancer(EEC), and to compare thesewith the pathologic results, and to thus determine the most useful method of esophagography for the detection ofEEC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 18 patients(M : F = 16 : 2) with pathologically proven EEC ; 17 cases weresquamous cell carcinoma and one was adenocarcinoma. Tumor size, shape and location were evaluated byesophagography and the findings were compared with the pathologic results. RESULTS: The tumors were 0.5-7 cm insize ; all except two were smaller than 4cm. Twelve were located in the middle esophagus, five cases in the loweresophagus and one case in the upper esophagus ; in ten cases, the margin was ill-defined. Esophagography showedthat eight cases were of the superficial depressed type, seven were the superficial elevated type, and three werethe tumorous type. All 18 cases were detected by double contrast study, but mucosal relief study and bariumfilling study revealed only ten and eight cases, respectively ; for the detection of EEC, double contrast studywas thus the most useful. CONCLUSION: EEC was commonly demonstrated in the middle esophagus with an ill-definedmargin ; it was of the superficial depressed or elevated type. For the detection of EEC, double contrast study wasthe most useful.

The Usefulness of Esophagogram with Marshmallow Bolus in Patients with Esophageal-Related Symptoms

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of the esophagogram using marshmallow bolus in the evaluation of the causes of variable esophageal-related symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Esophagograms using marshmallow bolus were performed on 44 patients with esophageal-related symptoms and on ten normal volunteers. Video fluoroscopic studies were also made. Patients were classified into three groups according to their esophageal-related symptoms ; those with dysphagia, those with globus symptom, and those with chest pain. Abnormal findings on an esophagogram with marshmallow were graded into three categories ; mild, moderate, and severe. Provocation of the same symptom wasalso evaluated. Esophageal manometric studies were performed on 16 patients and those results were compared with the results obtained from the esophagogram using marshmallow bolus. RESULTS: The provocation rate of the same symptom was 33% in the first group, 47% in the second, and 24% in the third. The provocation rate was highest inthe second group. The provocation rate was also higher in patients with a severe degree of abnormality on anesophagogram using marshmallow bolus. Where there were abnormal findings, an esophagogram using marshmallow bolus showed a higher abnormality rate than did a conventional esophagogram. In cases showing abnormal findings on the esophageal manometric study, an esophagogram using marshmallow bolus showed a higher provocation rate and more severe abnormality than in cases showing normal findings on manometric study. CONCLUSION: An esophagogram using marshmallow bolus will a useful radiologic screening modality for the evaluation of patients with esophageal-related symptoms.