Thickening of the posterior tracheal stripe: a sign of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
A thickened posterior tracheal stripe (wider than 4.5 mm) was identified on the lateral check radiographs of 20 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Autopsy studies confirmed that peri-esophageal lymphatic involvement was responsible for the thickening of the stripe in the nonobstructed esophagus. This sign appeared on the lateral chest radiograph as early as 6 months prior to the development of symptoms in 50% of the cases studied.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*