Imaging appearances of tumors invading esophageal inlet

Objective: To study the imaging appearances of tumors invading esophageal inlet and evaluate the diagnostic criteria of tumor invasion of esophageal inlet. Methods: Radiography, CT, and MRI findings of 27 cases with tumors infiltrating esophageal inlet proved by surgery and pathology were analyzed, including 4 primary carcinoma of cricopharyngeal, 5 carcinoma of esophageal, 7 carcinoma of the pyriform sinus, 6 carcinoma of larynx, and 5 carcinoma of thyroid. Results: Plain films could display that delayed passage of barium in all 27 cases, 16 cases could show constriction of the esophageal inlet and destruction of the mucosa. CT and MRI could display the distance between arytenoid cartilage and vertebra or the distance between cricoid cartilage and vertebra were increased and cricopharyngeal were thickened in 23 cases. MRI could show the limit between tumor and esophageal inlet were blurred and disappeared in all 14 cases. CT could display destruction of arytenoid cartilage in 7 cases, and destruction of the thyroid lamina in 6 cases. Conclusion: The distance between arytenoid cartilage and vertebra or the distance between cricoid cartilage and vertebra were increased and cricopharyngeal was thickened by CT and MRI, the limit between tumor and esophageal inlet was disappeared by MRI, the mucosa of the esophageal inlet was shown constriction and destruction by radiography. These were the characteristic features of tumors invading esophageal inlet