title: [Magnetic resonance imaging of the esophagus with lumen opacification using a specific contrast agent].
abstract: A new contrast agent has been developed for the opacification of the esophageal lumen in Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging. The contrast agent consists of an emulsion of low-density and high-viscosity barium paste employed for the CT study of the esophagus (E.Z.E.M., Westbury, USA) and a small amount of Gadolinium-DTPA (Magnevist, Schering, Germany), diluted in 3 ml of saline solution. In vitro evaluation of the contrast solution showed high-signal intensity on T1-weighted SE sequences. The study was subsequently performed on 5 healthy volunteers and 30 subjects with clinical indication for MR Imaging of the chest. The complete opacification of the esophagus was obtained in 12 of the 16 patients (75%) who presented no pathological involvement of the esophagus. The esophageal lumen was completely opacified in 8 patients with esophageal carcinoma and in 1 case of esophageal leiomyoma. In the cases with esophageal carcinoma, lumen opacification allowed the evaluation of tumor growth (concentric or eccentric), a more detailed definition of tumor extent, with assessment of neoplastic wall thickening, and the evaluation of the possible infiltration of adjacent organs. Lumen opacification was obtained in 8 of 10 patients (80%) affected with other chest conditions secondarily involving the esophagus. In these cases, lumen opacification helped to localize the esophagus and to evaluate its involvement by adjacent tumors.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Radiologia, Università de L'Aquila.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Cardone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albertini Petroni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cisternino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Innacoli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aytan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Passariello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
vernacular_title: Studio dell'esofago con risonanza magnetica con opacizzazione del lume mediante impiego di un mezzo di contrasto specifico.