The appearances of oesophageal carcinoma demonstrated on high-resolution, T2-weighted MRI, with histopathological correlation

Eur Radiol. 2007 Feb;17(2):391-9. doi: 10.1007/s00330-006-0363-6. Epub 2006 Aug 29.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Echo-Planar Imaging / methods
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Esophagectomy
  • Esophagus
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Research Design
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents