CT diagnosis of the trachea and the esophagus

In diseases of the trachea and the esophagus, diagnosis by CT was evaluated. CT was sensitive for stenosis of the lumen and structural changes of the cartilage in tracheal diseases. Especially, in a lesion of the intrathoracic trachea, the state of the neighbouring tissues was revealed, and foreign bodies in the esophagus, particularly radiolucent foreign bodies were detected. However, the image reading requires otorinolaryngologists to gain anatomical knowledge of horizontal section of the head and neck, and the thorax. (Ueda, J.)