Comparative imaging studies of congenital pyriform sinus fistula using barium esophagography and CT / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the value of barium esophagography and CT in the diagnosis of congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF).Methods The preoperative radiographic data of 5 9 CPSF patients were analyzed retrospectively,which were confirmed by operation.5 5 patients underwent barium esophagography,and 5 7 patients underwent pre-and post-contrast CT scans.The images of barium esophagography and CT were analyzed and the positive diagnostic rates (PDR)between the two imaging modalities and among the different CT features were compared.Results Among the 5 9 patients,left fistula was found in 5 5 cases,right fistula was found in 2 cases and bilateral fistula in 2 cases.For the patients examined with barium esophagography,53 sinus tracts or fistulas from the pyriform in 52 patients(including 2 patients with bilateral fistula)were depicted.The other 3 patients had negative results.The overall PDR of barium esophagography was 93.0%(53/57).CT findings of CPSF included the narrowness of pyriform fossa,sinus tract or fistula in the neck,bubble sign medial to the superior pole of thyroid,low density in thyroid,thyroid morphologic change,and so on.For the 5 7 patients (including 2 patients with bilateral fistula)examined with CT.The PDR of narrowness of pyriform fossa was 44.1%(26/59),the PDR of sinus tract or fistula was 1 3.6%(8/5 9),the PDR of bubble sign medial to the superior pole of thyroid was 55.9%(33/5 9),the PDR of low density in thyroid was 1 6.9%(1 0/5 9),the PDR of thyroid morphologic change(defect sign of superior pole of thyroid)was 9 1.5%(54/5 9 ).And the total PDR of thyroid density or morphologic change was 94.9%(56/59).Conclusion Barium esophagography can be the main modality to diagnose CPSF because of its high PDR.Although the PDR of CT for direct sign(sinus tract or fistula)is not high,its PDR for indirect sign (thyroid density or morphologic change)is very high.So CT has great value for patients suspected of CPSF.