Diagnostic Imaging Pathways - Staging of Oesophageal Cancer

Image Gallery

Image 1a and 1b (Barium Swallow): Malignant stricture located at the junction of the middle and distal third of the oesophagus, over a length of 2-3cm. Immediately distal to this is a segment of normal calibre oesophagus, followed by a further segment of narrowing immediately proximal to the gastro-oesophageal junction which has herniated above the diaphragm.

Image 2a (Endoscopic Ultrasound) and 2b (Computed Tomography): Images from the same patient showing oesophageal carcinoma with aortic involvement.

Image 3a, 3b and 3c (Computed Tomography): Images from the same patient showing oesophageal carcinoma. There is thickening of the distal oesophagus with enlarged para-aortic, para-oesophageal, retrocrural and coeliac axis lymph nodes (arrows). Multiple metastatic lesions are also present in the liver.

Image 4a (H&E, x2.5) and 4b (H&E, x10): Histological sections of a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus. There are sheets and nests of malignant squamous cells infiltrating through the oesophageal wall. Note the extensive lymphovascular space invasion (arrows). The cells demonstrate marked nuclear atypia with frequent mitotic figures at high power.