The posterior tracheal band and recurrent esophageal carcinoma

The posterior tracheal band (PTB) was studied on upright chest radiographs in 43 patients and its appearance and diagnostic usefulness correlated with recurrence of esophageal carcinoma after surgery of radiation therapy. It was seen well enough to be useful in 36 treated patients (83.7%). In 10 of 17 recurrent carcinomas (60%), all or part of the PTB showed progressive thickening up to greater than or equal to 5 mm compared with radiographs taken one month after therapy or later, suggesting recurrence in 6 of 8 cases after resection and in all 4 cases after radiotherapy. Such thickening never occurred in patients without recurrent carcinoma. In 6 of 10 cases, thickening of the PTB preceded the diagnosis of recurrence by two to six months.