Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Multimodality Diagnosis of Mesenteric Ischemia
Published on: July 21, 2023
Demonstration of the anatomy of the esophageal artery using multidetector-row helical computed tomography
Takumi Kato1, Kei Takase, Hirofumi Ichikawa
1Department of Advanced Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan. takumikato@med.tohoku.ac.jp
Objective:
To assess the ability of multidetector-row helical computed tomography to depict the esophageal artery.
Methods:
Patients with esophageal cancer (n = 88) underwent multidetector-row helical computed tomography. Degree of visualization, branching level, angle, and length of the esophageal artery were investigated.
Results:
In 79 (89.8%) of 88 patients, a total of 146 esophageal arteries were delineated from the origin to the insertion into the esophagus. Of the 146 arteries, 112 (76.7%) originated from the descending aorta and 34 (23.3%) from the right intercostal artery. Of the 112 aorta-originated arteries, 110 (98.2%) originated at a level between T6 and T11 from the left side of the descending aorta to go into the left wall of the esophagus. Of the 34 intercostal-originated arteries, 27 (79.4%) originated from right intercostal arteries between T5 and T7 to go into the esophagus.
Conclusions:
Multi-detector-row helical computed tomography depicted the esophageal artery in a high percentage of the patients.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:24Upper GI Series: Barium Swallow
Purpose and Procedure
Patients undergoing this procedure ingest a liquid containing barium sulfate with a chalky...
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...