Ct Findings In Patients With Esophageal Carcinoma And Its Correlation With Esophagographic Findings

Abstract

Introduction: The most prevalent histology of esophageal tumors is Squamous cell carcinoma in most parts of the world. More than 90% of esophageal cancers are either squamous cell carcinoma (SCCs) or Adenocarcinoma. Other histological types like small cell carcinoma (oat cell carcinoma) are extremely rare. Non-regional lymph nodes metastases are designated as M1a disease because patients with M1a disease have a worse prognosis than those with N1 disease.

Aims: Aim of this study is to evaluate the patients of biopsy proven esophageal carcinoma with Contrast CT studies (CECT thorax, abdomen or neck), correlate and compare the CT findings with esophagographic findings in each case and with biopsy findings wherever possible.

Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Radio-diagnosis, Jorhat Medical College & Hospital, Jorhat, Assam (India) during April 2022 to September 2022. Fifty (50) biopsy proven patients of esophageal carcinoma were included in the study.

Result: The esophageal wall thickening or mass was eccentrically located in 58% of cases with at least minimal luminal narrowing seen in all the 50 Cases (100%). Dilatation of the esophagus proximal to the obstructing growth were seen in 30 cases (60%). In 70% of the patients, periesophageal soft tissue or fat stranding was seen. In the present study, on CT scan the length of the growth were as follows: ≤2 cm (6%), 2.1 - 4 cm (38%), 4.1 - 6 cm (42%), 6.1 - 8 cm (10%), >8 cm (4%).

Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinoma was seen more commonly in middle and lower esophagus than upper esophagus. The degree of differentiation of Squamous cell carcinoma also showed significant correlation with the local invasion or distant metastases. These findings strongly suggest that there exists a significant correlation between CT findings and histopathology.