A Case of Behcet's Disease with Both Esophageal and Pharyngeal Ulcers Successfully treated with Steroid and Sulfasalazine

ABSTRACT

Behcet's disease is a heterogeneous disease that involves variable organ systems. Gastrointestinal Behcet's disease is rare and it generally affects the terminal ileum with propagation toward the cecum and ascending colon. Therefore, esophageal ulcer associated with Behcet's disease has not been reported frequently. We report an unusual case of Behcet's disease associated with both esophageal and pharyngeal ulcers. A 64-year-old man was admitted for an evaluation of pharyngeal and substernal discomfort sustained for 3 months. He had no underlying chronic disease; however, he suffered from recurrent oral and genital ulcers for 20 years and had folliculitis-like skin lesions on the face, scalp and trunk. He was diagnosed with Behcet's disease and gastroesophageal fiberscopy revealed deep ulcers on both the pharynx and upper esophagus. Esophagopharyngeal ulcers were successfully treated with prednisolone, colchicines, dapsone, and sulfasalazine.