Esophageal carcinoma: Evaluation with high-resolution three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state MR imaging in vitro

Purpose To determine the usefulness of high‐resolution three‐dimensional (3D) constructive interference in steady state (CISS) MRI for evaluating mural invasion and morphologic features in esophageal carcinomas. Materials and Methods Twenty‐four esophageal specimens with carcinomas were studied with a 1.5‐T system using a 4‐cm‐diameter loop coil. High‐resolution 3D‐CISS MR images were obtained with a field of view (FOV) of 80 mm, matrix of 256 × 256, and section thickness of 0.5 mm (voxel size of 0.05 mm3). 3D‐CISS MR images were compared with histopathologic findings, and virtual MR endoscopic images were compared with macroscopic findings at surgery. Results 3D‐CISS MR images clearly depicted the normal esophageal wall as consisting of eight layers, which correlated well with the histologic layers. In 22 of 24 esophageal carcinomas (92%), the depth of mural invasion visualized with 3D‐CISS MRI correlated well with the histopathologic staging. In all 24 carcinomas (100%), virtual MR endoscopic images clearly depicted the macroscopic types of the carcinomas, including adjacent lymph node swelling. Conclusion High‐resolution 3D‐CISS MRI has a high diagnostic accuracy for evaluating mural invasion and macroscopic findings in esophageal carcinomas, and may be applicable to preoperative histopathologic staging and morphologic evaluation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.