ESOPHAGEAL CANCER - RADIOLOGIC-DIAGNOSIS

The vast majority of malignant esophageal tumors are either squamous c ell carcinomas or adenocarcinomas arising in Barrett's mucosa. This ar ticle reviews the spectrum of findings associated with these tumors on barium studies. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of double-c ontrast esophagography in detecting early cancers, because these lesio ns have the best possibility for cure. Other less common malignant tum ors, such as spindle cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, leiomyosarc oma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and malignant melanoma, are also reviewed.