[Magnetic resonance imaging of hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal cancer].

Imaging by MR (MRI) and esophageal barium meal of 17 cases of hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal cancer were analyzed. The results indicate that esophageal barium meal can not demonstrate the invading of neoplasms to the adjacent structure. Therefore, it is difficult to use the only data of esophageal barium meal for TNM staging. The results also indicate that MRI is more useful and reliable in assessing the three dimensional structure and the neoplasms invading to the adjacent structure. This results suggest that MRI is that useful in determining the diagnosis, TNM staging and the determining the appropriate operative therapy for hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal cancer.