347 : Diseases of the Esophagus Flashcards
Hollow, muscular tube coursing through the posterior mediastinum joining the hypopharynx to the stomach with a sphincter at each end
Esophagus
Major esophageal symptoms
- Heartburn (pyrosis)
- Regurgitation
- Chest pain
- Dysphagia
- Odynophagia
- Globus sensation
Most common esophageal symptom
Heartburn (pyrosis)
Discomfort or burning sensation behind the sterum arising from epigastrium and may radiate toward the neck
Characteristics of heartburn
- after eating
- during exercise
- while lying recumbent
- relieved w/ drinking water or antacid
- interferes normal activities including sleep
Effortless return of food or fluid into the pharynx without nausea or retching
Regurgitation
Preceded by nausea and accompanied by retching
Vomiting
Behavior in which recently swallowed food is regurgitated and then reswallowed repetitively for up to an hour
Rumination
Most common cause of esophageal chest pain
Gastroesophageal reflux
Pain either caused by or exacerbated by swallowing
Odynophagia
Perception of a lump or fullness in the throat that is felt irrespective of swallowing and is often relieved by the act of swallowing
Globus sensation
“globus hystericus”
In the setting of anxiety or OCD
Excessive salivation resulting from a vagal reflex triggered by acidification of esophageal mucosa
Water brash
Most useful test for evaluation of proximal GI tract
Endoscopy or EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
Advantages of endoscopy vs barium radiography
- Increased sensitivity for detection of mucosal lesions
- vastly increased sensitivity for the detection of abnormalities mainly identifiable by color such as Barrett’s metaplasia or vascular lesions
- ability to obtain biopsy specimens for histologic exam of suspected abnormalities
- Ability to dilate strictures during the exam
Main disadvantages of endoscopy
- Cost
2. Utilization of sedatives or anesthetics
In detecting esophageal strictures, which has greater sensitivity? Endoscopy or Barium radiography
Barium radiography
T or F: Hypopharyngeal pathology and disorders of cricopharyngeus muscle are better appreciated using radiography than endoscopy.
True
Major shortcoming of barium radiography
Rarely obviates the need for endoscopy
Key advantage of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) over alternative radiologic imaging techniques
Much greater resolution attributable to proximity of the ultrasound transducer to the area being examined
Major esophageal applications of EUS
- Stage esophageal cancer
- Evaluate dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus
3 Assess submucosal lesions
Motility testing that involves positioning a pressure-sensing catheter within the esophagus and then observing the contractility following test swallows
Esophageal manometry
Can demonstrate excessive esophageal exposure to refluxed gastric juice, the physiologic abnormality of GERD
Reflux testing
24-48h esophageal pH recording
Herniation of viscera, most commonly the stomach, into the mediastinum through the esophageal hiatus of the diagphragm
Hiatus hernia
Types of hiatus hernia
Type I - sliding hiatal hernia (95%)
Type II - paraesophageal hernia; GE junction remains fixed at the hiatus
Type III - combined sliding and paraesophageal hernia
Type IV - viscera other than stomach herniate into the mediastiunum, most commonly the colon
Gastroesophageal junction and gastric cardia translocate cephalad from weakening of the phrenoesophageal ligament
Sliding hiatal hernia
Main significance of sliding hernias
Propensity of affected individuals to have GERD
Thin membranous narrowing at the squamocolumnar mucosal junction; a lower esophageal mucosal ring
B ring
Distal rings are usually associated with episodic solid food dysphagia
Schatzki rings
One of the most common cause of intermittent food impaction
“steakhouse syndrome”
Combination of symptomatic proximal esophageal webs and iron-deficiency anemia in middle aged women
Plummer-Vinson syndrome
Categorization of esophageal diverticula by location
- Epiphrenic (most common)
- Hypopharngeal (Zenker’s)
- Midesophageal
T or F: Epiphrenic and Zenker’s diverticula are false diverticula
True
Obstruction is a stenotic cricopharyngeus muscle (upper esophageal sphincter)
Zenker’s
Area of natural weakness proximal to the cricopharyngeus
Killian’s triangle
Type of esophageal diverticula that produces halitosis and aspiration
Zenker’s diverticula
The only true diverticula
Midesophageal diverticula usually caused by tuberculosis
T or F: Esophageal cancers are rare but lethal.
True
Most common congenital esophageal anomaly
Esophageal atresia
Esophagus is compressed by an aberrant right subclavian artery arising from the descending aorta and passing behind the esophagus
Dysphagia lusoria
Heterotropic gastric mucosa or esophageal inlet patch is a focus of gastric type epithelium in PROXIMAL or DISTAL esophagus?
Proximal cervical esophagus
Rare disease caused by loss of ganglion cells within the esophageal myenteric plexus presenting between age 25 and 60.
Achalasia
Differential diagnoses of achalasia
DES
Chagas’ disease
Pseudoachalasia
Vector causing the Chagas’ disease
Reduviid (kissing) bug
Protozoan responsible for Chagas’ disease
Trypanosoma cruzi
Modalities for diagnosis of achalasia
- Barium swallow xray AND/OR
2. Esophageal manometry
Role of Endoscopy in diagnosis of achalasia
To exlude pseudoachalasia
Barium swallow xray finding in achalasia
- Dilated esophagus with poor emptying
- Air fluid level
- Tapering at LES giving it a beak-like appearance
Diagnostic criteria for achalasia with esophageal manometry
Impaired LES relaxation
Absent peristalsis
Identifies early disease before esophageal dilatation and food retention making it the most sensitive diagnostic test
Manometry