Magnetic resonance imaging of esophageal carcinoma

Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 16 patients with esophageal carcinoma were reviewed with a 0.15 Tesla resistive magnet. MR was superior to CT for diagnosis of mediastinal invasion from esophageal carcinoma, especially on aortic and spinal invasion. Two cases with aortic invasion and inoperable one case with esophagomediastinal fistule had increased intraluminal signal, deformed lumen and irregular thickened wall in discending aorta of tumor level. A crescent shaped intraluminal high intensity area was seen in descending aorta of lower tumor level in these cases. Two cases with spinal invasion had loss of pre-spinal cruvilinear low intensity area representing anterior longitudinal ligament and cortex of spinal body. MR was also better than CT for imagning mediastinal lymph node matastasis. This preliminary experience indicates the clinical usefulness of MR in evaluation of esophageal carcinoma. (author)