Thoracic esophageal carcinoma: evaluation in the sagittal section with magnetic resonance imaging

Among 54 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma (53 squamous cell carcinoma, 1 adenosquamous carcinoma), the usefulness of MR sagittal imaging for evaluating local extent (T factor) was examined by measuring the anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the tumor. The MR examination was performed using ECG gated scans with a 3 mm slice at 1.5 Tesla. T1-weighted sagittal images were obtained. In 10 patients the appearance of the esophagus was normal, and in 44 patients a tumor was detected in the sagittal section. Thirty-seven lesions were histologically proved (Tis, 1; T1, 3; T2, 3; T3, 15; T4, 15). Lesions classified as 30 mm were resected. They were located in the lower esophagus. It is concluded that lesions detected in MR sagittal images might be T3 or T4 tumors, and masses of >30 mm might extend to adjacent organs, although two tumors with an AP diameter < 25 mm also invaded the trachea.