Esophageal carcinoma: evaluation with high-resolution three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state MR imaging in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the usefulness of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) constructive interference in steady state (CISS) MRI for evaluating mural invasion and morphologic features in esophageal carcinomas.


METHODS
Twenty-four esophageal specimens with carcinomas were studied with a 1.5-T system using a 4-cm-diameter loop coil. High-resolution 3D-CISS MR images were obtained with a field of view (FOV) of 80 mm, matrix of 256 x 256, and section thickness of 0.5 mm (voxel size of 0.05 mm(3)). 3D-CISS MR images were compared with histopathologic findings, and virtual MR endoscopic images were compared with macroscopic findings at surgery.


RESULTS
3D-CISS MR images clearly depicted the normal esophageal wall as consisting of eight layers, which correlated well with the histologic layers. In 22 of 24 esophageal carcinomas (92%), the depth of mural invasion visualized with 3D-CISS MRI correlated well with the histopathologic staging. In all 24 carcinomas (100%), virtual MR endoscopic images clearly depicted the macroscopic types of the carcinomas, including adjacent lymph node swelling.


CONCLUSIONS
High-resolution 3D-CISS MRI has a high diagnostic accuracy for evaluating mural invasion and macroscopic findings in esophageal carcinomas, and may be applicable to preoperative histopathologic staging and morphologic evaluation.
Yamada
Ichiro
I
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Oncology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. yamada.crad@tmd.ac.jp
Izumi
Yosuke
Y
Kawano
Tatsuyuki
T
Yoshino
Norio
N
Tetsumura
Akemi
A
Kumagai
Jiro
J
Shibuya
Hitoshi
H
D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity