title: Esophageal cancer: anatomic particularities, staging, and imaging techniques.
abstract: Cancer of the esophagus is a tumor with aggressive behavior that is usually diagnosed in advanced stages. The absence of serosa allows it to spread quickly to neighboring mediastinal structures, and an extensive lymphatic drainage network facilitates tumor spread even in early stages. The current TNM classification, harmonized with the classification for gastric cancer, provides new definitions for the anatomic classification, adds non-anatomic characteristics of the tumor, and includes tumors of the gastroesophageal junction. Combining endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging provides greater accuracy in determining the initial clinical stage, and these imaging techniques play an essential role in the selection, planning, and evaluation of treatment. In this article, we review some particularities that explain the behavior of this tumor and we describe the current TNM staging system; furthermore, we discuss the different imaging tests available for its evaluation and include a diagnostic algorithm.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Complejo Asistencial de Ávila, Ávila, España. Electronic address: javiencinas@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Encinas de la Iglesia
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Complejo Asistencial de Ávila, Ávila, España.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Corral de la Calle
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, España.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fernández Pérez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, España.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruano Pérez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Álvarez Delgado
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Cirugía mínimamente invasiva; Cáncer de esófago; Esofagectomía; Esofagoscopia; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal neoplasms; Esophagectomy; Esophagogastric junction; Esophagoscopy; Esophagus; Esófago; Magnetic resonance imaging; Minimally invasive surgical procedures; Neoplasias esofágicas; PET; Positron-emission tomography; Resonancia magnética; Tomografía computarizada; Tomography, X-ray computed; Unión esofagogástrica