Comparative evaluation of CT and MR imaging in the preoperative staging of esophageal carcinoma

This paper reports on a prospective, comparative evaluation of MR imaging and CT in the preoperative staging of esophageal carcinoma. Sixteen patients with carcinoma of the esophagus were preoperatively evaluated with CT and MR imaging. Pathologic confirmation of the diagnosis was established at the time of endoscopic biopsy or laparotomy. There were 14 cases of adenocarcinoma of the distal third of the esophagus, one of squamous carcinoma of the mid esophagus, and one of an invasive bronchogenic carcinoma of the esophagus. Eleven patients with proved esophageal carcinoma of the distal third of the esophagus were referred for transhiatal esophagectomy, which was performed in eight. Pathologic correlation was obtained in all eight patients, with extended mediastinal and abdominal nodal staging