The Efficiency of MRI in the Diagnostic of Esophageal Cancer in Comparison with CT and Endoscopic Ultrasound

Relevance: Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer in the world. Improving the algorithm for visualization of esophageal cancer through the use of modern magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques along with traditionally used methods of radiological diagnostic methods (endoussis, MSCT, PET/CT), is an important purpose of choosing the optimal way of treatment for various categories of patients. Purpose: To determine the possibilities of MRI in comparison with other methods (CT and Endoscopic Ultrasound) in the diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Material and methods: 125 people with suspected esophageal cancer were examined. All patients underwent MRI, 121 (96.8 %) of which also underwent esophageal CT, and 82 (65.6 %) EUS. All cases were histologically verified. Statistics: Categorial data processing was carried out using statistical techniques: frequency tables, conjugacy tables, χ 2 criteria or Fisher’s exact criteria (in the case of a small sample number). The differences were considered statistically significant at values of p < 0.05. The results : Mostly the use of an optimized MRI protocol in the diagnosis of esophageal tumors demonstrated predominantly high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in determining T and N criteria (72.8 %, 89.3 % and 85.7 % for the T-criterion, 70.4 %, 87.3 % and 83.9 % for the N-criterion, respectively) in comparison with CT methods (57.0 %, 83.7 % and 77 % for the T-test, and 73.6 %, 88.7 % and 85.6 % for the N-test, respectively) and endo-ultrasound (75.6 %, 83.3 % and 85.2 % for the T-test, 67.1 %, 86.7 % and 81.1 % for the N-test, respectively). Conclusion: The use of an optimized MRI protocol in determining the T and N criteria for esophageal cancer when compared with other modalities of radiation diagnosis showed: significant advantages of MRI in determining the T and N criteria compared with CT, moderate compared with endo-ultrasound for the T criterion, and comparable for the N criterion. The data obtained indicate the prospects for in-depth study and implementation of MR esophageal examination in clinical practice.