HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) CME Test (opens in a new window) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kim, T. J. Articles by Lee, K. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kim, T. J. Articles by Lee, K. W. Related Collections Chest Radiology Gastrointestinal Radiology Oncologic Imaging

Postoperative Imaging of Esophageal Cancer: What Chest Radiologists Need to Know¹

¹ From the Departments of Radiology (T.J.K., K.H.L., Y.H.K., K.W.L.) and Thoracic Surgery (S.W.S., S.J., S.-K.C.), Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 300 Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 463-707, South Korea; and the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, South Korea (T.J.K., K.H.L., Y.H.K., K.W.L.). Recipient of a Certificate of Merit award for an education exhibit at the 2005 RSNA Annual Meeting. Received March 20, 2006; revision requested May 31; final revision received September 20; accepted September 25. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose. Address correspondence to K.W.L. (e-mail: lkwrad{at}radiol.snu.ac.kr).

A variety of surgical procedures are used in the treatment of esophageal cancer. These procedures include transthoracic esophagectomy (Ivor Lewis procedure, McKeown procedure, left thoracoabdominal approach), transhiatal esophagectomy, and various forms of bypass surgery. Although meticulous surgical techniques and improved postoperative care have markedly reduced the complications associated with these techniques, esophageal resection is still associated with various intraoperative complications (hemorrhage, injury to the tracheobronchial tree, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury) and postoperative complications (anastomotic leak; mediastinitis; respiratory problems, including pleural effusion, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome; cardiac and functional complications). Postoperative tumor recurrence is not uncommon in patients undergoing curative resection for esophageal cancer and can be categorized as either locoregional (locoregional lymph node metastases, anastomotic recurrence) or distant (hematogenous metastases, pleural or peritoneal seeding). Hematogenous metastases most commonly involve the liver, lungs, and bones, followed by the adrenal glands, brain, and kidneys. Hematogenous metastases may also involve multiple organs simultaneously. The sophisticated surgical procedures used in esophagectomy can result in anatomic changes and confound image interpretation. The radiologist must understand how these procedures can affect imaging data and be familiar with the appearances of postoperative anatomic changes, complications, and tumor recurrence to ensure accurate evaluation of affected patients.

© RSNA, 2007