Dysphagia Secondary to Esophageal Compression in a Patient with Decompensated Heart Failure

Cardiogenic dysphagia is a rare type of esophageal dysphagia caused by external compression of the esophagus by an enlarged left atrium. Long-term comparisons between the degree of cardiogenic dysphagia and heart failure have not been reported due to its low incidence. We hereby report the case of a 74-year-old woman with valvular heart disease, suspected of having oropharyngeal dysphagia following a recent intracerebral hemorrhage, who performed a swallowing function test. Videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) revealed a supraglottic penetration, confirming the oropharyngeal dysphagia. Furthermore, post-VFSS chest radiograph revealed esophageal residual barium, suggestive of reduced esophageal food transition secondary to external compression, at the level of the T6 vertebral body. Chest computed tomography showed mid-esophageal compression caused by left atrial enlargement. She had pulmonary edema which was managed with diuretics. Post-VFSS chest radiographs also revealed a direct association between the diameter of the esophageal barium residue and body weight. A reduction in body weight led to the resolution of the barium residue and vice versa. Development of cardiac dysphagia may be one of the signs of acute exacerbation of heart failure.

A Case of Secondary Amyloidosis Associated with Intestinal Tuberculosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The secondary amyloidosis (AA type), a complication of inflammation or infection, is caused by the deposition of serum amyloid protein A in various organs. The clinical manifestations of amyloidosis are various according to involved organs. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the commonly affected organs. However, the endoscopic findings of gastrointestinal amyloidosis are nonspecific, and symptoms are diverse. Hepatic involvement of amyloidosis rarely leads to hepatic dysfunction, threfore is not a clinical concern. We report a 54-year-old women with intestinal tuberculosis whose major symptom was watery diarrhea lasting several months. The amyloid deposits were histologically proven in the rectum of which mucosa showed redness and swelling endoscopically and hepatic involvement of amyloidosis was suspected on abdominopelvic CT scan. After anti-tuberculosis medication for 6 months, abdominopelvic CT scan showed resolution of hepatic involvement and colonoscopy revealed improvement of redness and loss of vascularity of the rectum.

A Case of Secondary Amyloidosis Associated with Intestinal Tuberculosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The secondary amyloidosis (AA type), a complication of inflammation or infection, is caused by the deposition of serum amyloid protein A in various organs. The clinical manifestations of amyloidosis are various according to involved organs. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the commonly affected organs. However, the endoscopic findings of gastrointestinal amyloidosis are nonspecific, and symptoms are diverse. Hepatic involvement of amyloidosis rarely leads to hepatic dysfunction, threfore is not a clinical concern. We report a 54-year-old women with intestinal tuberculosis whose major symptom was watery diarrhea lasting several months. The amyloid deposits were histologically proven in the rectum of which mucosa showed redness and swelling endoscopically and hepatic involvement of amyloidosis was suspected on abdominopelvic CT scan. After anti-tuberculosis medication for 6 months, abdominopelvic CT scan showed resolution of hepatic involvement and colonoscopy revealed improvement of redness and loss of vascularity of the rectum.