Minhua CHEN, Kiyoshi CHOJI, Takashi CHOJI, Nobuyuki FUJITA, Goro IRIE

Department of Radiology Hokkaido University School of Medicine

キーワード : Esophagus, Ultrasound studies

B-mode ultrasonography (US) of cervical esophagus from the cervical skin surface at rest was performed in 24 patients without any disorders in the esophagus and in 32 healthy volunteers. A total of 56 cases were studied. Ages ranged from 20 to 70 yrs with a mean age of 41. Visualization rates for each part of the esophagus--anterior, posterior, lateral, and medial walls (AW, PW, LW, MW)--were recorded as well as the wall thicknesses of each part. Clear visualization in the transverse view was obtained in 96% of AW; 87% of PW; 86% of LW; 18% of MW. In the longitudinal view, clearvisualization was obtained in 96% of AW as well as 66% of PW. The high rate of visualization of AW indicates the feasibility of US examination of the cervical esophageal wall from the skin surface.
The wall thickness averaged 1.9 mm in AW and in PW in both transverse and longitudinal views; 2.2 mm in LW and 2.0 mm in MW in the transverse view. Taking the measurement error into consideration, the authors conclude that the normal esophagus wall is 3.0 mm at AW and PW in both transverse and longitudinal views and 3.5 mm at the LW. This data for AW, PW, and LW can be used as a standard for measurement of cervical esophagus.