Due to the vast area comprised under gastrointestinal radiology, both regarding radiological techniques used and variety of organs and diseases included, this lecture will discuss only five entities.
Esophageal carcinoma encompasses both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.
At discovery most squamous cell carcinomas are advanced with local and regional lymph node invasion. Most are infiltrative producing irregular narrowing and constriction. Dysphagia is progressive from solids to liquids and is present 2 to 4 months before patients seek medical attention. Other findings are odynophagia, anorexia, weight loss, and chest pain. Lobulated mass, large ulceration, and tortuous longitudinal filing defects are other less common appearances, corresponding to less common gross patterns of growth.