Computed tomography of the esophagus

CT provides information about the esophagus unavailable at this time by any other means. It may help the clinician distinguish between a primary esophageal process and mediastinal disease, which affects the esophagus secondarily. It is used in the preoperative evaluation of benign neoplasms and congenital lesions because of its ability to precisely assess the extent of disease. It demonstrates the effects of extra-esophageal extension of inflammatory processes including broncho-esophageal fistula and free esophageal perforation. It can be used as a noninvasive way to evaluate portal hypertension. The most important use of esophageal CT, however, is the staging of esophageal cancer. Because of its ability to demonstrate the entire thickness of the esophageal wall and the relationship of the esophagus surrounding structures, CT is heavily relied upon in predicting prognosis and guiding therapy of this disease.