Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis

Recurrent Dysphagia Associated with Esophageal Intramural Pseudodiverticulosis

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis (EIPD) is a rare disorder of the esophagus characterized by the presence of outpouching flask-shaped lesions. These lesions represent false lumens that may be scattered throughout the esophageal wall. We present a rare case of EIPD complicated with esophageal strictures. The case is unique because the small lesions of EIPD remained undiagnosed for many years on prior esophagogastroduodenoscopy examinations until complicated with worsening symptoms of dysphagia due to esophageal stricture. The patient was managed with serial dilations of esophageal stricture. Diagnosing these lesions may be missed in early stages as the lesions are small and may require other radiological modalities to confirm the diagnosis. EIPD lesions itself can be managed conservatively with anti-inflammatory therapy and treatment of underlying risk factors. Those with severe disease and coexisting complications are managed with endoscopic or surgical interventions.

Barium esophagogram in various esophageal diseases: A pictorial essay

Recent years have seen a decline in number of barium procedures due to wider availability of cross sectional imaging modalities. Though use of barium esophagography/barium swallow has decreased in day to day clinical practice, it still remains a valuable test for structural and functional evaluation of esophagus. It can be performed as single or double contrast examination or as a multiphasic examination comprising upright double contrast views followed by prone single contrast views. This pictorial essay demonstrates imaging features of various esophageal diseases on barium esophagogram.

Corrosive injuries of the upper gastrointestinal tract: A pictorial review of the imaging features

Corrosive ingestion is a common form of poisoning. Corrosive agents cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The most severe forms of injury can lead to mortality; however, the major concern with this type of injury is life-long morbidity. Upper GI endoscopy is the test of choice for assessing severity in the acute phase of the disease. The long-term management is based on the site, length, number, location, and tightness of the stricture. This information is best provided by the barium contrast studies. In this pictorial review, a spectrum of findings in patients with corrosive injuries of the esophagus and stomach is illustrated. The role of various imaging modalities including barium studies, endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging is discussed.

A case of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis (EIP) is a rare benign disease that is characterized by multiple tiny flask-shaped outpouching lesions of the esophageal wall. The etiology is unknown, but the pathologic findings include dilatation of excretory ducts of submucosal glands. The predominant symptom is dysphagia, and esophageal stricture occurs frequently. Diseases such as diabetes mellitus, esophageal candidiasis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic alcoholism are often combined. Since most EIP cases are benign, the mainstream treatment is symptom relief by endoscopic dilatation or medical treatment of accompanied diseases. This report describes the case of a 68-year-old male patient who suffered from chest tightness for 2 months and was diagnosed with EIP. This symptom disappeared after 2 months of medical treatment, and the patient is now being regularly followed up.

Diseases of the esophagus: diagnosis with esophagography

The barium esophagram is a valuable diagnostic test for evaluating structural and functional abnormalities of the esophagus. The study is usually performed as a multiphasic examination that includes upright double-contrast views with a high-density barium suspension, prone single-contrast views with a low-density barium suspension, and, not infrequently, mucosal-relief views with either density of barium suspension. The double-contrast phase optimizes the ability to detect inflammatory or neoplastic diseases, whereas the single-contrast phase optimizes the ability to detect hiatal hernias and lower esophageal rings or strictures. Fluoroscopic examination of the esophagus is also important for assessing motility disorders such as achalasia and diffuse esophageal spasm. This article is a review of gastroesophageal reflux disease, other types of esophagitis, benign and malignant esophageal tumors, varices, lower esophageal rings, diverticula, and esophageal motility disorders, all of which can be diagnosed with the aid of esophagography.

Radiologic diagnosis of benign esophageal strictures: a pattern approach

Benign esophageal strictures are a leading cause of dysphagia. Therefore, radiologists have an important role in detecting esophageal strictures and determining their cause. The most common cause of strictures in the distal esophagus is gastroesophageal reflux disease. Reflux-induced ("peptic") strictures may be associated with sacculations, fixed transverse folds, or esophageal intramural pseudodiverticula. In addition, scleroderma, nasogastric intubation, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and alkaline reflux esophagitis may be associated with stricture formation in the distal esophagus. Upper and midesophageal strictures may be caused by Barrett esophagus, mediastinal irradiation, ingestion of drugs or caustic substances, congenital esophageal stenosis, skin diseases, or esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis. Other unusual causes of esophageal stricture formation include Crohn disease, Candida esophagitis, graft-versus-host disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, Behçet disease, endoscopic sclerotherapy for esophageal varices, and glutaraldehyde contamination at endoscopy. Esophageal strictures are best evaluated with biphasic esophagography that includes both single- and double-contrast spot images. When esophageal strictures are detected at barium examination, the underlying cause can often be determined with a pattern approach that takes into account the clinical history, the appearance and location of the strictures, and the presence of other associated radiographic findings.

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis: review of symptoms including upper gastrointestinal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis (EIP) is a rare condition manifested by multiple, flask-shaped outpouchings in the wall of the esophagus, which represent dilated excretory ducts of esophageal mucous glands.

STUDY

Five patients with EIP were evaluated with regard to symptoms and concomitant diseases, as well as endoscopic, radiologic, and manometric findings.

RESULTS

Primary clinical symptoms reported by the five patients (three men and two women; age range, 59-72 years) were increasing dysphagia ( n = 3), upper gastrointestinal bleeding ( n = 1), and no symptoms ( n = 1). Concomitant diseases were chronic alcoholism ( n = 3), diabetes mellitus ( n = 1), and reflux esophagitis ( n = 1). Primary diagnosis was made endoscopically in all cases. Endoscopic findings other than pseudodiverticula were esophageal webs ( n = 2) and proximal esophageal stenoses ( n = 4). The typical radiologic findings were detectable in two patients, pathologic manometric findings were seen in only one patient. The authors treated the concomitant diseases and performed endoscopic dilatations of esophageal stenoses. One case with initial bleeding from an associated web is described in detail. According to our knowledge, this is the first publication of a case of EIP-associated bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis is a differential diagnosis in cases of dysphagia and/or esophageal strictures if no other causes are found. The authors think that endoscopy is the method of choice for establishing the diagnosis.

Intramural tracking: a feature of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine the frequency of intramural tracking in patients with esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis and to characterize the morphologic features of this finding on barium studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of radiology files at two institutions revealed 30 cases of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis diagnosed at esophagography. In all cases, the radiographs were reviewed retrospectively to determine the frequency and morphologic features of intramural tracking in these patients. The number and distribution of pseudodiverticula and the presence or absence of strictures or esophagitis were also noted.

RESULTS

Fifteen (50%) of 30 patients with esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis had intramural tracking on esophagography. The tracks had an average length of 1.2 cm (length range, 0.3-7 cm) and an average width of 1.6 mm (width range, 1-4 mm). The pseudodiverticula were more numerous and had a more diffuse distribution in patients with tracking than in patients without tracking. Although patients with and without tracking had a similar frequency of strictures and esophagitis, patients with tracking were more likely to have strictures involving the upper or mid esophagus, whereas patients without tracking were more likely to have strictures in the distal esophagus. These findings indicate that intramural tracking is more likely to occur in patients with the diffuse form of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis.

CONCLUSION

Intramural tracking was detected on esophagography in 50% of patients with esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis, so this type of tracking is a more common radiographic finding than has previously been recognized. Although intramural tracking has little or no known clinical significance, it is important to be aware of this finding so that it is not mistaken for a large flat ulcer in the esophagus or for an extramural collection associated with esophageal peridiverticulitis.

Duodenal intramural pseudodiverticulosis

Although esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis is well described, similar pathology has not been demonstrated elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Three cases are reported with identical changes in the duodenum, one of which had simultaneous esophageal involvement. All three patients were alcohol abusers.

Diffuse esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis and nutcracker esophagus in a 54-year-old man

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis, which was first described by Mendl et al. in 1960, is characterized by multiple small flask-shaped outpouchings in the esophageal wall. The pseudodiverticula represent dilated excretory ducts of deep mucous glands in the esophagus. The etiology of this rare condition is unknown. Hiatal hernias, gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal strictures, candida esophagitis, herpes esophagitis, diabetes mellitus, and chronic alcoholism have been found associated with intramural pseudodiverticulosis. We report the second case of esophageal hypermotility in intramural pseudodiverticulosis.

Oesophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis

Twelve cases of oesophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis are described and the findings in 85 previously reported cases are reviewed. The condition occurs in all age groups, predominantly in the sixth and seventh decades, with a slight predilection for males. The characteristic radiographic appearance is of multiple flask shaped outpouchings of 1-4 mm with narrow necks communicating with the oesophageal lumen. The source of the pseudodiverticula has been shown to be pathologically dilated excretory ducts of the submucous glands due to chronic submucosal inflammation. The distribution was segmental in 57 cases (59%) and diffuse in 40 (41%). Dysphagia is the main symptom and was found in 85 cases (88%); 88 cases out of 97 had radiological narrowing of the oesophagus; of these, 39 (44%) were in the upper oesophagus, 20 (23%) in the middle oesophagus, and 29 (33%) in the lower oesophagus. Treatment is directed towards management of the associated disorder, as the diverticula themselves rarely cause problems.

High-amplitude peristaltic contractions in a patient with esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis

In their initial radiographic description of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis (EIP) in 1960, Mendl and coworkers suggested that elevated esophageal intraluminal pressure might be etiologically important. Chronic inflammation and moniliasis have also been implicated. A patient is reported with EIP and a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by esophageal contractions of increased amplitude and duration. Features confusing the interpretation of esophageal motor abnormalities in previously reported cases, such as diabetes mellitus, fungal esophagitis, and stricture formation, were not present in this case.