CT findings in patients with esophagitis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to determine the CT findings in patients with esophagitis.


METHODS
A search of medical and radiology files revealed 29 patients with esophagitis in whom thoracic CT was performed within 1 month of the diagnosis. The CT scans were reviewed retrospectively for esophageal wall thickening, a target sign, or other abnormalities. The thickness of the esophageal wall was also measured on CT in these 29 patients and compared with a control group of 85 patients.


RESULTS
We found that 16 patients (55%) with esophagitis had abnormal findings on CT, including a thickened esophageal wall (using 5 mm as the threshold for wall thickening) in all 16 (55%) and a target sign in five (17%). The overall mean esophageal wall thickness was 4.7 mm (standard deviation [SD], 2 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-8.7 mm) in patients with esophagitis versus a mean wall thickness of 2.9 mm (SD, 0.8 mm; 95% CI, 1.3-4.5 mm) in controls (p <.001). Using the same 5-mm threshold for wall thickening, we found that only three (4%) of 85 controls had a thickened esophageal wall on CT.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of patients with esophagitis had abnormalities on CT, including a thickened esophageal wall (> or =5 mm) in 55% and a target sign in 17%. Although barium studies and endoscopy are more sensitive modalities for detecting this condition, the CT finding of a relatively long segment of circumferential esophageal wall thickening, with or without a target sign, should suggest the diagnosis of esophagitis in the proper clinical setting.
Berkovich
G Y
GY
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Levine
M S
MS
Miller
W T
WT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003287:Contrast Media; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media