{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T23:14:34Z","timestamp":1790637274312,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,9,23]],"date-time":"2016-09-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1474588800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of Anatomy"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>An organized layer of connective tissue coursing from aorta to esophagus was recently discovered in the mediastinum. The relations with other peri\u2010esophageal fascias have not been described and it is unclear whether this layer can be visualized by non\u2010invasive imaging. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive description of the peri\u2010esophageal fascias and determine whether the connective tissue layer between aorta and esophagus can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (<jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\">MRI<\/jats:styled-content>). First, T2\u2010weighted<jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\">MRI<\/jats:styled-content>scanning of the thoracic region of a human cadaver was performed, followed by histological examination of transverse sections of the peri\u2010esophageal tissue between the thyroid gland and the diaphragm. Secondly, pretreatment motion\u2010triggered<jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\">MRI<\/jats:styled-content>scans were prospectively obtained from 34 patients with esophageal cancer and independently assessed by two radiologists for the presence and location of the connective tissue layer coursing from aorta to esophagus. A layer of connective tissue coursing from the anterior aspect of the descending aorta to the left lateral aspect of the esophagus, with a thin extension coursing to the right pleural reflection, was visualized<jats:italic>ex\u00a0vivo<\/jats:italic>in the cadaver on<jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\">MR<\/jats:styled-content>images, macroscopic tissue sections, and after histologic staining, as well as on<jats:italic>in\u00a0vivo<\/jats:italic><jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\">MR<\/jats:styled-content>images. The layer connecting esophagus and aorta was named \u2018aorto\u2010esophageal ligament\u2019 and the layer connecting aorta to the right pleural reflection \u2018aorto\u2010pleural ligament\u2019. These connective tissue layers divides the posterior mediastinum in an anterior compartment containing the esophagus, (carinal) lymph nodes and vagus nerve, and a posterior compartment, containing the azygos vein, thoracic duct and occasionally lymph nodes. The anterior compartment was named \u2018peri\u2010esophageal compartment\u2019 and the posterior compartment \u2018para\u2010aortic compartment\u2019. The connective tissue layers superior to the aortic arch and at the diaphragm corresponded with the currently available anatomic descriptions. This study confirms the existence of the previously described connective tissue layer coursing from aorta to esophagus, challenging the long\u2010standing paradigm that no such structure exists. A comprehensive, detailed description of the peri\u2010esophageal fascias is provided and, furthermore, it is shown that the connective tissue layer coursing from aorta to esophagus can be visualized<jats:italic>in\u00a0vivo<\/jats:italic>by<jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\">MRI<\/jats:styled-content>.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/joa.12552","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,9,23]],"date-time":"2016-09-23T06:46:55Z","timestamp":1474613215000},"page":"262-271","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":37,"title":["The peri\u2010esophageal connective tissue layers and related compartments: visualization by histology and magnetic resonance imaging"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"230","author":[{"given":"T. J.","family":"Weijs","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Surgery University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"L.","family":"Goense","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgery University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Radiotherapy University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"P. S. N.","family":"van Rossum","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgery University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Radiotherapy University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"G. J.","family":"Meijer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiotherapy University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"A. L. H. M. W.","family":"van Lier","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiotherapy University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"F. J.","family":"Wessels","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M. N. G.","family":"Braat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"I. M.","family":"Lips","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiotherapy University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J. P.","family":"Ruurda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgery University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M. A.","family":"Cuesta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgery Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre Amsterdam the Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R.","family":"van Hillegersberg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgery University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R. L. A. 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