The appearances of oesophageal carcinoma demonstrated on high-resolution, T2-weighted MRI, with histopathological correlation.
This paper describes the spectrum of imaging features of oesophageal adenocarcinoma seen using high-resolution T2-weighted (T2W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thirty-nine patients with biopsy-proven oesophageal adenocarcinoma were scanned using an external surface coil. A sagittal T2W sequence was used to localise the tumour and to plan axial images perpendicular to the tumour. Fast spin-echo (FSE) T2W axial sequence parameters were: TR/TE, 3,300-5,000 ms/120-80 ms; field of view (FOV) 225 mm, matrix 176x512(reconstructed) mm to 256x224 mm, giving an in-plane resolution of between 1.28x0.44 mm and 0.88x1.00 mm, with 3-mm slice thickness. Thirty-three patients underwent resection and the MR images were compared with the histological whole-mount sections. There were four T1, 12 T2, and 17 T3 tumours. The T2W high-resolution MRI sequences produced detailed images of the oesophageal wall and surrounding structures. Analysis of the imaging appearances for different tumour T stages enabled the development of imaging criteria for local staging of oesophageal cancer using high-resolution MRI. Our study illustrates the spectrum of appearances of oesophageal cancer on T2W high-resolution MRI, and using the criteria established in this study, demonstrates the potential of this technique as an alternative non-invasive method for local staging for oesophageal cancer.
Riddell
A M
AM
Department of Radiology, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JJ, UK. Angela.Riddell@rmh.nhs.uk
Allum
W H
WH
Thompson
J N
JN
Wotherspoon
A C
AC
Richardson
C
C
Brown
G
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012107:Research Design; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents