Abstract
The esophagus is an organ which consists of a fibromuscular tube which enables the passage of food. This transmission is aided by peristaltic contractions, from the pharynx to the stomach, where the process of digestion reaches the acme. Efficient transport through the esophagus requires the organ either to be patent and well canalized or to have adequate motility. This consists of coordinating sequential contraction that mobilizes the bolus from above and clears acid and bile reflux from below. Dysfunction of this integrated muscular motion reduces progression of bolus and causes a distressing sense of dysphagia, chest pain, and regurgitation, or leads to other severe conditions (i.e., ab ingestis pneumonia).
In this scenario modern imaging techniques, either invasive or noninvasive, concede an early and accurate diagnosis that radically changed the approach to those disorders. In fact a predominant role is played by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but conventional radiology (barium esophagography; endoscopic ultrasonography, EUS) is still essential. Among those techniques, dynamic MRI of the esophagus has developed a great potential, with the introduction of ultrafast MR sequences, which have decreased scan times, granting a minor exposure to ionizing radiation.
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Abbreviations
- CES:
-
Congenital esophageal stenosis
- CT:
-
Computed tomography
- DES:
-
Diffuse esophageal spasm
- EA:
-
Esophageal atresia
- Gd:
-
Gadolinium
- GERD:
-
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- HU:
-
Hounsfield unit
- IEM:
-
Ineffective esophageal motility
- MRI:
-
Magnetic resonance imaging
- NEMD:
-
Nonspecific esophageal motility dysfunction
- SE:
-
Scleroderma of the esophagus
- TEF:
-
Tracheoesophageal fistula
- UES:
-
Upper esophageal sphincter
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Indino, E.L., di Gaeta, A., Andreoli, G., Del Monte, M., Panebianco, V. (2018). Imaging of Nonneoplastic Esophageal Pathologies. In: Anzidei, M., Anile, M. (eds) Diagnostic Imaging for Thoracic Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89893-3_17
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