A Study On Magnetic Resonance Imaging Of Esophageal Carcinoma

Objective:To explore the improved technique the T staging of MRI in esophageal carcinoma. Materials and methods:Both the barium meal film and MRI scan data of 31 cases in esophageal carcinoma proved pathologically were analyzed. All cases were examined with 1.5 T magnetic resonance machine. Three-planar(axil, sagittal, coronal) scans were performed. Nineteen cases were also chosen spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequence. Four cases also had CT scan, and 3 cases of postoperative specimen had MRI scan. SPSS 11.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results:In 31 cases of esophageal carcinoma, it included cervical segments esophageal carcinoma(n=3) thoracic segments esophageal carcinoma(n=21) and lower esophageal carcinoma which also involving the cardia(n=7). Twenty-fourth cases of cervical and thoracic segments esophageal carcinoma showed irregularly annular or eccentric thickening of esophageal wall, and intraluminal soft tissue mass. Seven cases of lower esophageal carcinoma which also involving the cardia showed soft tissue mass of the cardia and irregularly annular thickening of lower esophageal wall. The masses displayed isointensity and unhomogenouslyenhanced. According to the T staging of MRI in 25 cases of postoperative esophageal carcinoma, it included Tstage(n=7 T stage(n=13) T4 stage(n=5) lymph nodes metastasis(n=6) and liver metastasis(n=2). To compare MRI scan data with the pathologic findings, the whole accuracy of the T staging of MRI in 25 cases was 80.0%, and 71.4% in T stage, 76.9% in T3 stage, 100% in T4 stage respectively. Kappa value=0.678, P0.0005, it illustrated the high concordance. Conclusion:According to the radiologic examinations of esophageal carcinoma, MRI is the effective supplement of the barium meal examination. It is useful in preoperative T staging and clinical treatment. Spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequence is needed for thoracic and abdominal segments esophageal carcinoma. And the accuracy of the T staging of MRI in esophageal carcinoma could be risen if observing on T2-weight imaging. It has high accuracy in judging T3 and T4 stage, but it is still difficult to distinguish T stage from T2 stage.