Sonographic demonstration of the normal thoracic esophagus

Diagnostic significance of periesophageal fat pad in ultrasonography for sliding hiatal hernias: sonographic fat pad sign

The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic significance of visualization of periesophageal fat pad in ultrasonography or computed tomography for sliding hiatal hernias. Forty-six controls and 21 esophageal hiatal hernia patients were compared in terms of sonographic and tomographic esophageal diameters. We suggest that absence of periesophageal fat pad sign in ultrasonography or computerized tomography is a noteworthy finding that calls for further investigation for the diagnosis of sliding hiatal hernias.

Use of sonography for evaluation of the cervical and thoracic esophagus in children

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine the normal sonographic appearance of the cervical and thoracic esophagus and to provide corresponding measurements in healthy children.

METHODS

In this prospective study, 93 children (51 girls and 42 boys) 1 to 15 years of age were examined sonographically. With the patient in a supine position for evaluation of the cervical esophagus, the ultrasound transducer was placed on both sides of the trachea. To evaluate the thoracic esophagus, the hands were raised over the head, and the ultrasound transducer was placed along the left side of the sternum. The length of the cervical esophagus was measured longitudinally, and the anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the cervical and thoracic esophagus were measured transversely, as was the thickness of the cervical esophageal wall.

RESULTS

The cervical esophagus was identified in all of the children, whereas the thoracic esophagus was shown in 41 (44%) of the 93 participants. The length of the cervical esophagus and anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the cervical and thoracic esophagus increased with age. The mean thickness of the cervical esophagus was 2.8 mm at all ages. The cervical esophageal wall appeared as 5 layers on the sonograms, and the lumen was distinct.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of the cervical esophagus was readily achievable with sonography in children, whereas visualization of the thoracic esophagus was difficult because of the deep location, small size, and influence of bones and gas in the lungs. Conventional sonography can be easily used in the evaluation of cervical esophageal diseases in children.

Transcutaneous cervical esophagus ultrasound in adults: Relation with ambulatory 24-h pH-monitoring and esophageal manometry

AIM: To determine the gastroesophageal refluxate in the cervical esophagus (CE) and measure transcutaneous cervical esophageal ultrasound (TCEUS) findings [anterior wall thickness (WT) of CE, esophageal luminal diameter (ELD), esophageal diameter (ED)]; to compare TCEUS findings in the patient subgroups divided according to 24-h esophageal pH monitoring and manometry; and to investigate possible cut-off values according to the TCEUS findings as a predictor of gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

METHODS: In 45/500 patients, refluxate was visualized in TCEUS. 38/45 patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), 24-h pH monitoring and manometry.

RESULTS: The 38 patients were grouped according to 24-h pH monitoring as follows: Group A: GER-positive (n = 20) [Includes Group B: isolated proximal reflux (PR) (n = 6), Group C: isolated distal reflux (DR) (n = 6), and Group D: both PR/DR (n = 8)]; Group E: no reflux (n = 13); and Group F: hypersensitive esophagus (HSE) (n = 5). Groups B + D indicated total PR patients (n = 14), Groups E + F reflux-negatives with HSE (n = 18), and Groups A + F reflux-positives with HSE (n = 25). When the 38 patients were grouped according to manometry findings, 24 had normal esophageal manometry; 7 had hypotensive and 2 had hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES); and 5 had ineffective esophageal motility disorder (IEM). The ELD measurement was greater in group A + F than group E (P = 0.023, 5.0 ± 1.3 vs 3.9 ± 1.4 mm). In 27/38 patients, there was at least one pathologic acid reflux and/or pathologic manometry finding. The cut-off value for ELD of 4.83 mm had 79% sensitivity and 61% specificity in predicting the PR between Groups B + D and E (AUC = 0.775, P = 0.015).

CONCLUSION: Visualizing refluxate in TCEUS was useful as a pre-diagnostic tool for estimating GER or manometric pathology in 71.1% of adults in our study, but it was not diagnostic for CE WT.