From the radiologic pathology archives: esophageal neoplasms: radiologic-pathologic correlation

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Esophageal neoplasms present with varied clinical, pathological, and imaging findings.
• Benign tumors include leiomyomas, fibrovascular polyps, and granular cell tumors.
• Malignant tumors, notably squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, are significant causes of cancer mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the spectrum of esophageal neoplasms.
• To correlate imaging manifestations with pathologic findings.
• To emphasize the importance of understanding these features for clinical management.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical features, pathology, and imaging characteristics of esophageal neoplasms.
• Classification of tumors into benign and malignant categories.
• Description of characteristic imaging findings for specific tumor types.

Main Results:

• Leiomyomas are common benign intramural masses.
• Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma typically appear as irregular infiltrative lesions.
• Adenocarcinoma often involves the gastroesophageal junction, originating from Barrett esophagus.
• Other malignant types include lymphoma, spindle cell carcinoma, and neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Conclusions:

• Accurate detection, differential diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning rely on understanding esophageal neoplasm imaging and pathology.
• Imaging plays a crucial role in differentiating benign from malignant esophageal lesions.
• Knowledge of specific tumor characteristics aids in guiding patient management.