Esophageal disease: is cross sectional imaging contributive?

For a long time, esophagography and endoscopy were the major diagnostic tests used for evaluation of the esophagus. Now, the development of computed tomography, endosonography and MR imaging has permitted more comprehensive evaluation of esophageal diseases. Cross sectional imaging is essential to evaluate the relationship between esophageal lesions and adjacent mediastinal structures and to evaluate the thickness of the esophageal wall.