Esophageal cancer imaging - reporting and data system (ECI-RADS) and post-therapy ECI-RADS (pECI-RADS): Comprehensive synoptic reporting formats for esophageal cancer imaging: A narrative review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Using a comprehensive synoptic reporting format effectively conveys the imaging findings from the radiologist to the treating physician/surgeon, relaying maximum relevant information in a standardized manner without missing any pertinent findings. We believe that two separate reporting templates are required for cancer image reporting: one for conveying baseline imaging findings on initial staging and the other for recording post-treatment findings. As no such reporting format is available for esophageal cancer on the American College of Radiology website, we have prepared two structured reporting templates: Pretreatment Esophageal Cancer Imaging–Reporting and Data System and Post-therapy Esophageal Cancer Imaging–Reporting and Data System to enable the radiologist to convey important findings pertaining to staging and post-therapy assessment of esophageal cancer. For this, we searched the internet using Google and referred to all the relevant articles and their references published in the preceding 25 years; we also included an article from 1984 because of relevance. In addition, we referred to the management guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network version 2.2022 for formulating the synoptic reporting formats.