Esophageal lichen planus: An unusual cause of dysphagia in the elderly / Líquen plano esofágico: uma causa incomum de disfagia em idosos

Summary An 82-year-old man sought our service with dysphagia and was referred for upper endoscopy with biopsies, which evidenced multiple ulcers of the esophagus and oropharinx. Histopathology confirmed the unusual diagnosis of esophageal lichen planus. The correct clinical suspicion of this disease can facilitate the diagnosis and guide specific treatment, which can drastically change the natural course of the disease.

Resumo Paciente do sexo masculino, de 82 anos, com disfagia, foi encaminhado para realização de endoscopia digestiva alta com biópsias, na qual foram evidenciadas múltiplas úlceras de esôfago e orofaringe. O estudo histopatológico confirmou o diagnóstico raro de líquen plano esofágico. A correta suspeita clínica dessa doença pode facilitar o diagnóstico e direcionar para um tratamento específico, o que pode drasticamente alterar o curso natural dessa comorbidade.

Esophageal Mast Cell Infiltration in a 32-Year-Old Woman with Noncardiac Chest Pain

Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is one of the most common esophageal symptoms and lacks a clearly defined mechanism. The most common cause of NCCP is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). One of the accepted mechanisms of NCCP in a patient without GERD has been altered visceral sensitivity. Mast cells may play a role in visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome. In this case, a patient with NCCP and dysphagia who was unresponsive to proton pump inhibitor treatment had an increased esophageal mast cell infiltration and responded to 14 days of antihistamine and antileukotriene treatment. We suggest that there may be a relationship between esophageal symptoms such as NCCP and esophageal mast cell infiltration.

Congenital esophageal stenosis owing to tracheobronchial remnants / Estenosis congenita del esofago por remanecientes traqueobronquicos: relato de cuatro casos / Estenose congenita do esofago por remanescentes traqueobronquicos

OBJECTIVE To emphasize the need of an accurate diagnosis of congenital esophageal stenosis due to tracheobronchial remnants, since its treatment differs from other types of congenital narrowing. CASE DESCRIPTION Four cases of lower congenital esophageal stenosis due to tracheobronchial remnants, whose definitive diagnosis was made by histopathology. Except for the last case, in which a concomitant anti-reflux surgery was not performed, all had a favorable outcome after resection and anastomosis of the esophagus. COMMENTS The congenital esophageal stenosis is an intrinsic narrowing of the organâ€(tm)s wall associated with its structural malformation. The condition can be caused by tracheobronchial remnants, fibromuscular stenosis or membranous diaphragm and the first symptom is dysphagia after the introduction of solid food in the diet. The first-choice treatment to tracheobronchial remnants cases is the surgical resection and end-to-end anastomosis of the esophagus. .

OBJETIVO Enfatizar la necesidad de un diagnóstico preciso de estenosis congénita del esófago por remanecientes traqueobrónquicos, una vez que su tratamiento difiere de los otros tipos de estrechamiento congénito. DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CASO Cuatro casos de estenosis congénita del esófago inferior causada por remanecientes traqueobrónquicos, cuyo diagnóstico definitivo fue obtenido por examen histopatológico. Excepto por el último caso, en el que no se utilizó cirugía antirreflujo concomitante, todos presentaron evolución satisfactoria después de resección y anastomosis del esófago. COMENTARIOS La estenosis congénita del esófago consiste en el estrechamiento intrínseco de la pared del órgano asociado a la malformación de su estructura. Puede ser causada por restos traqueobrónquicos, espesamiento fibromuscular o diafragma membranoso y tiene como primera manifestación clínica disfagia después de la introducción de alimentos sólidos en la dieta. El tratamiento de elección para los casos de remanecientes traqueobrónquicos es la resección del segmento estenosado con anastomosis término-terminal. .

OBJETIVO Enfatizar a necessidade de um diagnóstico preciso de estenose congênita do esôfago por remanescentes traqueobrônquicos, já que seu tratamento difere dos outros tipos de estreitamento congênito. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO Quatro casos de estenose congênita do esôfago inferior causada por remanescentes traqueobrônquicos, cujo diagnóstico definitivo foi obtido por exame histopatológico. À exceção do último caso, em que não se realizou cirurgia antirrefluxo concomitante, todos apresentaram evolução satisfatória após ressecção e anastomose do esôfago. COMENTÁRIOS A estenose congênita do esôfago consiste no estreitamento intrínseco da parede do órgão associada à malformação de sua estrutura. Pode ser causada por restos traqueobrônquicos, espessamento fibromuscular ou diafragma membranoso e tem como primeira manifestação clínica disfagia após introdução de alimentos sólidos na dieta. O tratamento de escolha para os casos de remanescentes traqueobrônquicos é a ressecção do segmento estenosado com anastomose término-terminal. .

Blastomicosis oral, papilomatosis laríngea y tuberculosis esofágica / Oral blastomycosis, laryngeal papillomatosis and esophageal tuberculosis

El compromiso esofágico es una complicación infrecuente de la tuberculosis incluso en países con alta prevalencia de infección. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 57 años no seropositivo al virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), con diagnóstico simultáneo de blastomicosis en cavidad oral y papilomatosis laríngea, ambas confirmadas por anatomía patológica. La biopsia de esófago reveló esofagitis granulomatosa con necrosis; la tinción de Ziehl-Neelsen mostró bacilos ácido-alcohol resistente, sugerentes de tuberculosis. El antecedente de tuberculosis pulmonar en dos oportunidades y abandono de tratamiento determinó el inicio de tratamiento antituberculoso de segunda línea a través de un tubo de gastrostomía, más itraconazol vía oral. La evolución fue favorable.

Esophageal involvement is an extremely rare complication of tuberculosis even in countries with high prevalence of infection. We report the case of a 57 year-old hiv-seronegative patient with simultaneous diagnoses of oral blastomycosis and laryngeal papillomatosis. Both were confirmed by anatomopathological analysis. The esophageal biopsy revealed granulomatous esophagitis with necrosis and ziehl-neelsen stain showed acid-fast alcohol resistant bacilli suggestive of tuberculosis. The patient’s history included pulmonary tuberculosis twice and previous abandonment of therapy. Thus, it was necessary to use oral itraconazole combined with second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs administered through a gastrostomy tube. The clinical development was favorable.

Hematoma intramural esofágico / Esophageal intramural hematoma

The most common presentation of esophageal hematoma is pain, dysphagia and hematemesis. We report two patients with the condition. A 77 years old female presenting with retrosternal pain and odynophagia after ingesting a pig bone. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a lineal hematoma, protruding to the lumen in the upper portion of the esophagus. The patient was managed with nil per os (NPO) and parenteral hydration and discharged 72 hours later. An 87 years old male presenting with two episodes of hematemesis and weight loss, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a dissecting hematoma involving the entire esophageal wall. The patient was managed with NPO and hydration and discharged in good conditions 11 days after admission.

El hematoma intramural esofágico es infrecuente, existiendo pocos casos registrados en la literatura. Generalmente se presenta posterior a un trauma, por ejemplo asociado a procedimientos endoscópicos (escleroterapia), o en forma espontánea. La presentación clínica más frecuente es la tríada de dolor torácico, odinofagia/disfagia y/o hematemesis. Generalmente el tratamiento consiste en un manejo expectante con medidas de soporte habitual. Se exponen 2 casos clínicos presentados en nuestro centro durante el año 2009 y se realiza una revisión de la literatura.

A Case of Conservatively Resolved Intramural Esophageal Dissection Combined with Pneumomediastinum / 대한소화기학회지

Intramural esophageal dissection (IED) is a rare form of esophageal injury. We report a rare case of spontaneous IED complicated with pneumomediastinum and successfully improved by conservative management. A 46-year-old man presented to the emergency department with chest pain and hematemesis. The endoscopic diagnosis was suspicious of IED. Chest CT scan performed to rule out complication noted IED combined with pneumomediastinum. He was managed conservatively with nil per oral, intravenous antibiotics and parenteral nutrition. Follow up study after 2 weeks later showed near complete resolution of IED. IED should be included in the differential diagnosis for unexplained acute chest pain, especially, associated with dysphagia and hematemesis. IED with pneumomediastinum or mediastinitis require prompt surgery. So far, there is no case report of IED combined with pneumomediastinum which resolved without surgical treatment. In this case, IED combined with pneumomediastinum has improved by conservative management, so we present a case report.

Pólipo fibrovascular esofágico: Estudio por imágenes multimodalidad / Endoluminal excision of an esophageal fibrovascular polyp: Report of one case

We report a 47 years old woman presenting with dysphagia. A chest CAT scan and barium swallow showed an endoluminal mass that extended to four vertebrae. An endoluminal sonography localized the pediculum of the mass, that was excised endoscopically. The pathological study disclosed a fibrovascular polyp. After 18 months of follow up, the patient is asymptomatic.

A Case of Acute Esophageal Necrosis with Gastric Outlet Obstruction / 대한소화기학회지

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a very rare disorder typically presenting as a diffuse black esophageal mucosa on upper endoscopy. For this reason, AEN is often considered to be synonymous with 'black esophagus'. The pathogenesis of entity is still unknown. We report a case of AEN with duodenal ulcer causing partial gastric outlet obstruction. A 53-year-old man presented with hematemesis after repeated vomiting. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed circumferential black coloration on middle 315 to lower esophageal mucosa that stopped abruptly at the gastroesophageal junction. Pyloric ring deformity and active duodenal ulceration with extensive edema was observed. After conservative management with NPO and intravenous proton pump inhibitor, he showed clinical and endoscopic improvement. He resumed an oral diet on day 7 and was discharged. In our case the main pathogenesis of disease could be accounted for massive esophageal reflux due to transient gastric outlet obstruction by duodenal ulcer and following local ischemic injury.

rare cause of intermittent dysphagia: giant fibrovascular polyp of the proximal esophagus

Fibrovascular polyps account for only 0.5-1% of all benign esophageal tumors and causes intermittent dysphagia. The patient was a 63-year-old gentleman with gradually progressive intermittent dysphagia of 40 days duration. Investigations revealed a submucosal tumor of the proximal esophagus causing luminal compromise. Excision was performed through a cervical esophagotomy and specimen was subject to histopathological examination. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and he was completely relieved of his symptoms

Unusual Bronchopulmonary Foregut Malformation Associated with Pericardial Defect: Bronchogenic Cyst Communicating with Tubular Esophageal Duplication

We report a case of unusual bronchopulmonary foregut malformation composed of a mediastinal bronchogenic cyst with sequestrated lung tissue and communicating tubular esophageal duplication associated with complete pericardial defect. A 18-yrold man, who had suffered from dry cough and mild dyspnea, was admitted because of an incidentally detected chest mass. A computed tomography scan demonstrated a cystic mass with an air fluid level connected with esophagus in the middle mediastinum. The surgically resected mass was a pleural invested accessory lobe of the lung (8.0x7.0x4.5 cm) connected with the esophageal wall by a tubular structure (3.0 cm in length and 2.0 cm in diameter). A complete left pericardial defect was also identified. Histologically, the cystic wall was composed of fibrovascular connective tissue with a smooth muscle layer, mixed seromucous glands and cartilage, and the inner surface of the cyst was lined by ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The inner surface of the tubular structure was lined by non-keratinizing or keratinizing squamous epithelium, and the wall contained submucosal mucous glands, muscularis mucosa, and duplicated muscularis propria. This case is important in understanding the embryological pathogenesis of the variable spectrum of the bronchopulmonary foregut malformation.

Utilización del tisuacril en la anastomosis del esófago con otros segmentos del tubo digestivo / Use of Tysuacril in esophagus anastomosis with other segments of the digestive tube

Las dehiscencias y fístulas de las anastomosis del esófago con segmentos pediculados del tubo digestivo son complicaciones frecuentes en la cirugía del esófago. En diversas estadísticas recientes, nacionales y extranjeras, se ha registrado una incidencia de hasta el 40 por ciento. Este hecho, unido a las ventajas reportadas en la utilización de los adhesivos sintéticos del tipo del tisuacril, hace interesante realizar un estudio clínico para extender el uso del producto al reforzamiento de las suturas en la anastomosis del esófago con otros segmentos del tubo digestivo, con el fin de prevenir las dehiscencias. Se realizó un ensayo clínico de fase II, prospectivo, controlado, aleatorizado, multicéntrico, a simple ciegas, que se extendió desde enero de 1998 hasta febrero de 2005. En él se incluyeron pacientes que ingresaron en los hospitales ®Calixto García¼ y ®Miguel Enríquez¼ con el diagnóstico de enfermedades esofágicas. Se logró la introducción en el país de una nueva aplicación para el adhesivo tisular tisuacril y se demostró que la utilización del producto es una opción significativamente más ventajosa que el procedimiento convencional sólo con sutura, ya que se obtuvo una eficacia del 93 por ciento en el grupo experimental respecto al 64 por ciento en el grupo control. Uno y otro grupo eran homogéneos respecto a las variables de control. El tratamiento con tisuacril disminuyó la frecuencia de aparición de fístulas esofágicas y no se reportaron eventos adversos en relación con la aplicación del producto(AU)

The dehiscencias and water-pipes of the anastomosis of the esophagus with segments pediculados of the alimentary canal are frequent complications in the surgery of the esophagus. In diverse statistical recent, national and foreign, he/she has registered an incidence of until 40 percent. This fact, together to the advantages reported in the use of the synthetic adhesives of the type of the tisuacril, makes interesting to carry out a clinical study to extend the use from the product to the reinforcement of the sutures in the anastomosis of the esophagus with other segments of the alimentary canal, with the purpose of preventing the dehiscencias. He/she was carried out a clinical rehearsal of phase II, prospective, controlled, randomized, multicéntrico, to simple blind that extended from January of 1998 until February of 2005. In him they were included patient that entered in the hospitals ®Calixto García¼ and ®Miguel Enríquez¼ with the diagnosis of illnesses esofágicas. The introduction was achieved in the country of a new application for the adhesive tisular tisuacril and it was demonstrated that the use of the product is a significantly more advantageous option that the conventional procedure only with suture, since an effectiveness of 93 percent was obtained in the experimental group regarding 64 percent in the group control. One and another group were homogeneous regarding the control variables. The treatment with tisuacril diminished the frequency of appearance of water-pipes esofágicas and adverse events were not reported in connection with the application of the product(AU)

The Incidence of Gastro-Esophageal Disease for the Patients with Typical Chest Pain and a Normal Coronary Angiogram

BACKGROUND: Although patients may present with typical chest pain and exhibit ischemic changes on the cardiac stress test, they are frequently found to have a normal coronary angiogram. Thus, we wanted to determine which procedures should be performed in order to make an adequate diagnosis of the cause of chest pain. METHODS: 121 patients (males: 42, 34.7%) who had a normal coronary angiogram with typical chest pain were included in this study. All the patients underwent upper endoscopy, Bernstein's test and esophageal manometry. RESULTS: Among the 121 patients, clinically stable angina was noted in 107 (88.4%). Stress testing was done in 82 (67.8%); it was positive in 52 (63.4%). Endoscopic findings were erosive gastritis in 18 (14.8%), gastric ulcer in 4 (3.3%), duodenal ulcer in 5 (4.1%), and reflux esophagitis in 16 (13.2%). Positive results were observed on Berstein's test for 68 patients (56.2%); 59 (86.8%) of them had non-erosive reflux disease. On the esophageal manometry, 35 (28.9%) of these patients had motility disorders. Nutcracker esophagus was observed in 27 patients (22.3%), nonspecific esophageal motility disorder was observed in 5 (4.1%), and hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter was observed in 3 (2.5%). Among the 52 patients with positive cardiac stress testing and a negative coronary angiogram (this clinically corresponded to microvascular angina), 46 patients (85.1%) showed abnormal findings on the gastro-esophageal studies. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, 85.1% of the patients with microvascular angina revealed positive results of gastric or esophageal disease. In spite of any existing evidence of microvascular angina or cardiac syndrome X, it would be more advisable to perform gastro-esophageal studies to adequately manage chest pain.

Papel dos testes provocativos esofagianos na investigação de pacientes com dor torácica de origem indeterminada / Role of esophageal provocative tests in the investigation of patients with chest pain of undetermined origin

RACIONAL: As dores de origem esofagiana e coronariana são bastante semelhantes do ponto de vista clínico, havendo necessidade de exclusão desta última, que ocasiona risco de morte. A investigação esofagiana tradicional de pacientes com dor torácica de origem indeterminada, envolve emprego de endoscopia digestiva alta, esofagomanometria e pHmetria esofagiana prolongada. Esses métodos, embora de grande importância diagnóstica, muitas vezes, revelam alterações, em sua maioria, potenciais para a origem da dor. Os testes provocativos de dor esofagiana, ao reproduzirem-na em laboratório, apontam com segurança a sua origem.OBJETIVOS: Determinar a positividade dos testes de perfusão ácida, do edrofônio e da distensão esofagiana com balão em pacientes com dor torácica de origem indeterminada, e correlacionar os resultados com os testes habitualmente empregados, estabelecendo o ganho no diagnóstico da dor esofagiana comprovada...

Respiratory distress in neonates.

Respiratory distress due to either medical or surgical causes occurs commonly in neonates. It is the most common cause of admission to a neonatal surgical intensive care facility in a tertiary care hospital. The distress can be caused by a variety of clinical conditions; common conditions treated in medical intensive care units are transient tachypnea of the new born, respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary air leak and pneumothorax. In surgical causes of respiratory distress in neonates the underlying mechanisms include airway obstruction, pulmonary collapse or displacement and parenchymal disease or insufficiency; the common causes are congenital diaphragmatic hernia, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, congenital lobar emphysema and esophageal atresia with or without tracheo-esophageal fistula. Obstructive lesions of the new born airway include choanal atresia, macroglossis, Pierre-Robin syndrome, lymphangioma, teratoma or other mediastinal masses, cysts, subglottic stenosis and laryngo tracheomalacia. Imaging plays a very major role in the pre-operative diagnosis of these conditions and proper pre-operative resuscitation helps in improving the results of surgery dramatically.

Clinical Analysis of Prognosis in Spontaneous Esophageal Rupture / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Spontaneous esophageal rupture is a life-threatening injury because of delay in diagnosis and rapid progression to septic condition. But acceptable standard treatment strategy has not been established yet. This may be due to its low incidence and lack of published literature. In this study, we evaluated the proper treatment strategy as to decide when and how to manage spontaneous esophageal rupture by analyzing our experiences. METHODS: Eleven patients who were diagnosed as spontaneous esophageal perforation in Dongsan Medical Center from 1993 to 2003 were analyzed. Patients were divided into survival and death group. Clinical manifestations, rupture site and size, treatment methods and complications were compared. RESULTS: All patients were male and alcoholics. Six patients had survived and five patients died. Age, sites and sizes of ruptures, operation methods were not different in both groups. Before operation, septic condition was present in all patients of death group and more common than survival group (p=0.015). Survival group showed shorter time interval from rupture to initial treatment (p=0.021) and to operation (p=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and initial aggressive treatments such as nothing per oral, pleural and mediastinal drainage are important factor for better prognosis. If possible, early operation such as primary repair must be done. Although any difference according to types of operation method was not found in this study, further study with larger groups seems to be necessary.

Dissecting intramural hematoma in esophageal carcinoma.

A 50-year-old man with esophageal carcinoma developed severe, refractory, retrosternal chest pain. The diagnosis was made four days later when contrast studies showed an intramural dissecting hematoma of the esophagus. The patient responded to conservative management.

Esophageal Mucosal Desquamation with Hemorrhage in Bullous Pemphigoid: A Case Report / 대한소화기학회지

Bullous pemphigoid is a subepidermal blistering skin disease, usually occurred in the elderly. It is an autoimmune disease associated with circulating autoantibodies directed against structural components of hemodesmosome. Rarely, it can involve the esophagus, which can be complicated by upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. We report a case of bullous pemphigoid with esophageal mucosal desquamation and hemorrhage in patient with chronic renal failure.

Susceptibilidad antifúngica de Candida albicans recuperadas de pacientes con SIDA y candidiasis orofaríngea y esofágica. Experiencia con Etest / Antifungal susceptibility for Candida albicans isolated from AIDS patients with oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis: experience with Etest

BACKGROUND: Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) and esophageal candidiasis (EPC) are frequent complications in AIDS patients. The use of Fluconazole, an effective and a low toxicity drug, has been associated to the emergency of secondary resistant strains. For this reason, in vitro antifungal susceptibility tests are necessary to predict a therapeutic failure. Etest is an easy to perform alternative test, that has showed a good agreement with the broth microdilution reference method (NCCLS, document M27-A). AIM: To measure the susceptibility of C. albicans isolates from AIDS patients complicated with OPC and EPC to Amphotericin B (AmB) and Fluconazole (Flu) using Etest. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty strains from 20 AIDS patients were studied. AmB was tested in RPMI 1640 agar and Flu in Casitone agar. RESULTS: All studied strains showed minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) < 1 mg/mL for AmB. A highly resistant strain to Flu (> 256 mg/mL) was isolated from a patient previously treated with Flu. CONCLUSIONS: In AIDS patients with OPC and EPC, the susceptibility to Flu of the isolates should be screened, to detect resistant strains. Etest is a reliable alternative in these cases, for laboratories that cannot use the reference method.