eMedicine Specialties > Radiology > Gastrointestinal

Esophagus, Carcinoma: Multimedia

Author: Raymond Thornton, MD, Assistant Member, Section of Interventional Radiology and Image Guided Therapy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Coauthor(s): Judy Yee, MD, Chief of CT and Gastrointestinal Radiology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, University of California at San Francisco
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 5, 2009

Multimedia

Anteroposterior barium esophagram demonstrates an...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 1: Anteroposterior barium esophagram demonstrates an abrupt change in the caliber of the esophagus, with a long, irregular, annular stricture of the thoracic esophagus. Note the masslike shouldering at the proximal extent of the lesion at which filling defects are present within the dilated esophageal lumen. Findings are most consistent with esophageal carcinoma.
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Anteroposterior barium esophagram demonstrates an...

Anteroposterior barium esophagram demonstrates an abrupt change in the caliber of the esophagus, with a long, irregular, annular stricture of the thoracic esophagus. Note the masslike shouldering at the proximal extent of the lesion at which filling defects are present within the dilated esophageal lumen. Findings are most consistent with esophageal carcinoma.

Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates an abrupt ...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 2: Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates an abrupt change in the caliber and contour of the esophagus caused by an irregular circumferential stricture containing focal ulcerations. Findings are most consistent with esophageal carcinoma.
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Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates an abrupt ...

Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates an abrupt change in the caliber and contour of the esophagus caused by an irregular circumferential stricture containing focal ulcerations. Findings are most consistent with esophageal carcinoma.

Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates marked irr...
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Media file 3: Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates marked irregular narrowing of the esophageal lumen with focal ulcerations and almost complete obstruction; these findings are consistent with esophageal carcinoma.
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Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates marked irr...

Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates marked irregular narrowing of the esophageal lumen with focal ulcerations and almost complete obstruction; these findings are consistent with esophageal carcinoma.

Oblique barium esophagram demonstrates a focal, f...
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Media file 4: Oblique barium esophagram demonstrates a focal, fixed, concave contour deformity of the posterior esophageal wall. This represents superficial spreading esophageal carcinoma.
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Oblique barium esophagram demonstrates a focal, f...

Oblique barium esophagram demonstrates a focal, fixed, concave contour deformity of the posterior esophageal wall. This represents superficial spreading esophageal carcinoma.

Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates a large, i...
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Media file 5: Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates a large, intraluminal, lobulated filling defect diagnosed as esophageal carcinoma during endoscopic biopsy.
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Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates a large, i...

Lateral barium esophagram demonstrates a large, intraluminal, lobulated filling defect diagnosed as esophageal carcinoma during endoscopic biopsy.

Nonenhanced axial CT image at the level of the or...
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Media file 6: Nonenhanced axial CT image at the level of the origin of the great vessels demonstrates a nasogastric tube in place. The esophageal wall is thickened circumferentially and exerts mass effect on the posterolateral tracheal wall. Infiltration of the mediastinal fat adjacent to the great vessels is present. Findings are consistent with esophageal carcinoma with tracheal invasion.
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Nonenhanced axial CT image at the level of the or...

Nonenhanced axial CT image at the level of the origin of the great vessels demonstrates a nasogastric tube in place. The esophageal wall is thickened circumferentially and exerts mass effect on the posterolateral tracheal wall. Infiltration of the mediastinal fat adjacent to the great vessels is present. Findings are consistent with esophageal carcinoma with tracheal invasion.

Sagittal reformatted chest CT scan demonstrates m...
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Media file 7: Sagittal reformatted chest CT scan demonstrates marked, long-length, esophageal wall thickening abutting the posterior tracheal wall. Tracheal invasion by esophageal carcinoma was found at bronchoscopy.
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Sagittal reformatted chest CT scan demonstrates m...

Sagittal reformatted chest CT scan demonstrates marked, long-length, esophageal wall thickening abutting the posterior tracheal wall. Tracheal invasion by esophageal carcinoma was found at bronchoscopy.

Enhanced axial CT image demonstrates irregular wa...
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Media file 8: Enhanced axial CT image demonstrates irregular wall thickening of the esophagus. A heterogeneously enhancing mass to the right of the esophagus represents a markedly enlarged metastatic lymph node. No significant loss of the fat plane is noted between the esophageal mass and the descending thoracic aorta, indicating the absence of aortic invasion. Small bilateral pleural effusions are present.
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Enhanced axial CT image demonstrates irregular wa...

Enhanced axial CT image demonstrates irregular wall thickening of the esophagus. A heterogeneously enhancing mass to the right of the esophagus represents a markedly enlarged metastatic lymph node. No significant loss of the fat plane is noted between the esophageal mass and the descending thoracic aorta, indicating the absence of aortic invasion. Small bilateral pleural effusions are present.

Nonenhanced axial CT image demonstrates a large p...
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Media file 9: Nonenhanced axial CT image demonstrates a large proximal esophageal mass with asymmetric impression on the posterior tracheal wall, suggestive of invasion. Recall that the posterior tracheal wall may bow inwardly (usually symmetrically) during expiration because of incomplete tracheal cartilage rings. Infiltration of the peri-esophageal fat is demonstrated, although no evidence of aortic invasion is present.
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Nonenhanced axial CT image demonstrates a large p...

Nonenhanced axial CT image demonstrates a large proximal esophageal mass with asymmetric impression on the posterior tracheal wall, suggestive of invasion. Recall that the posterior tracheal wall may bow inwardly (usually symmetrically) during expiration because of incomplete tracheal cartilage rings. Infiltration of the peri-esophageal fat is demonstrated, although no evidence of aortic invasion is present.

Enhanced axial CT image demonstrates a large esop...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 10: Enhanced axial CT image demonstrates a large esophagogastric junction carcinoma and several large liver lesions, with heterogeneous peripheral contrast enhancement and irregular margins consistent with metastases.
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Enhanced axial CT image demonstrates a large esop...

Enhanced axial CT image demonstrates a large esophagogastric junction carcinoma and several large liver lesions, with heterogeneous peripheral contrast enhancement and irregular margins consistent with metastases.

More on Esophagus, Carcinoma

Overview: Esophagus, Carcinoma
Imaging: Esophagus, Carcinoma
Multimedia: Esophagus, Carcinoma
References
Further Reading
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References

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Further Reading

Clinical guidelines

The role of endoscopy in the assessment and treatment of esophageal cancer.
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Medical Specialty Society.  2003 Jun.  6 pages.  NGC:004063

Preoperative or postoperative therapy for resectable esophageal cancer: guideline recommendations.
Program in Evidence-based Care - State/Local Government Agency [Non-U.S.].  2002 Apr (revised 2008 May 21).  57 pages.  NGC:006707

Management of oesophageal and gastric cancer. A national clinical guideline.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network - National Government Agency [Non-U.S.].  2006 Jun.  69 pages.  NGC:005071


Clinical trials

Biobank Esophagus Cancer: Storing Blood and Protein of Patients With Esophagus Cancer

IMRT Tomotherapy for Esophagus Cancer

FDG-PET-CT and Biomarkers in Esophageal Cancer

Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, and Radiation Therapy With or Without Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer


Related eMedicine topics

Esophageal Cancer

 Barrett's Esophagus

Tissue Transfer, Jejunum



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Keywords

esophageal carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Raymond Thornton, MD, Assistant Member, Section of Interventional Radiology and Image Guided Therapy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Raymond Thornton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Judy Yee, MD, Chief of CT and Gastrointestinal Radiology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, University of California at San Francisco
Judy Yee, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Zahir Amin, MD, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR, Consulting Staff, Department of Imaging, University College Hospital, UK
Zahir Amin, MD, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR is a member of the following medical societies: British Institute of Radiology, British Medical Association, and Royal College of Radiologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD, Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Abraham H Dachman, MD, FACR, Professor, Department of Radiology, The University of Chicago School of Medicine; Director of CT, Department of Radiology, The University of Chicago Hospitals
Abraham H Dachman, MD, FACR is a member of the following medical societies: Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: iCAD, Inc. Consulting fee Consulting; iCAD, Inc. Grant/research funds Other; GE Healtcare, Inc. Honoraria Speaking and teaching

CME Editor

Robert M Krasny, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Resolution Imaging Medical Corporation
Robert M Krasny, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Eugene C Lin, MD, Consulting Radiologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center; Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Eugene C Lin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Nuclear Medicine, American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Nuclear Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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