Another look at the segmental air esophagogram

The segmental air esophagogram (SAE) is an incidental finding in normal and abnormal frontal chest radiographs. It recognition is important to the proper radiologic analysis of the mediastinum, and examples are presented to illustrate its variable appearance in healthy and diseased patients. The authors observe that the SAE may occur less frequently in patients with carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus.