Recurrent esophageal carcinoma: CT evaluation after esophagectomy.
OBJECTIVE
Computed tomographic (CT) scans were retrospectively reviewed for evidence of (a) intragastric soft-tissue mass or gastric wall thickening, (b) extragastric soft-tissue mass or mediastinal lymph node enlargement (local-regional disease), (c) abdominal lymph node enlargement, and (d) metastatic disease to distant organs.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients with a clinical suspicion of recurrent esophageal carcinoma underwent CT. The thoracic level of local-regional recurrence was compared with the level of the primary tumor.


RESULTS
Proof of recurrence status was obtained in 52 of 58 patients. Of the 58 patients, 36 (62%) had CT findings of recurrence, 16 (28%) had no CT findings of recurrence, and six (10%) had CT findings questionable for recurrence. CT accuracy for determining recurrence status was 87%. There was no correlation between the level of primary tumor and that of recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
At CT, tumor recurrences were most commonly seen as some combination of local-regional disease, distant metastases, and abdominal lymph node enlargement. CT findings isolated to one region were seen only occasionally.
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor 48109-0030.
J G
JG
Carlisle
L E
LE
Quint
I R
IR
Francis
M B
MB
Orringer
J F
JF
Smick
B H
BH
Gross
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed