A case of brain abscess as complication of esophageal dilation for caustic stenosis

Caustic ingestion in children-A review

Various domestic or industrial chemicals may cause significant upper aerodigestive tract burns. Preventive measures should be up-scaled, especially in the developing world, to reduce the epidemic of accidental victims, largely unsupervised preschool children. External signs do not predict degree of injury. Non-invasive diagnostic screening includes radio-nuclear imaging, but early oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy remains the standard to predict stricture formation from circumferential submucosal scarring. Serial dilation is the mainstay of oesophageal stricture therapy, with oesophageal replacement reserved for severe refractory strictures. Intra-lesional steroid or mitomycin C may decrease the dilatations required for severe strictures, although long-term effects are unknown. Risk of secondary oesophageal carcinoma mandates long-term surveillance.

Nasopharyngeal gangrenous abscess with skull base extension caused by Escherichia coli after esophageal dilatation for esophageal reconstruction

Background:

Esophageal dilatation is the most widely used treatment option for the management of esophageal strictures. Complications include bleeding, brain abscess, esophageal perforation and bacteremia. Nasopharyngeal gangrenous abscess after the esophageal dilatation is very rare. Endonasal endoscopic surgery was performed to treat the lesion and a successful result was obtained.

Case Description:

A 59-year-old woman with a previous history of dilatation for esophageal stricture was admitted with a low-grade fever, headache, neck pain and cranial nerve abnormalities including sixth nerve palsy. Imaging studies aroused suspicion of necrotic retropharyngeal tumor with clivus, condylar process and cavernous sinus invasion. Biopsy with a pharyngosope was performed by an ENT doctor. The pathology showed acute necrotic inflammation, tissue granulation and bacteria colonies. Navigation with endonasal endoscopic surgery was chosen to treat the skull base and nasopharyngeal abscess. Bacterial culture showed Escherichia coli. Symptoms improved after the operation and treatment with antibiotics.

Conclusion:

A nasopharyngeal gangrenous abscess with extension to the skull base in the case of esophageal reconstruction after esophageal dilatation is extremely rare. Physicians dealing with esophageal stricture should keep in mind that a nasopharyngeal abscess is a potential complication of esophageal dilatation.

Brain abscess following esophageal dilatation

The authors report a case of brain abscess following esophageal dilatation for corrosive stricture in a 23-year-old woman. High fever and neurological findings post dilatation led us to suspect this rare complication, which was confirmed by cranial computed tomography. Prompt treatment with antibiotics and surgical drainage led to a favorable clinical outcome. This serious complication should be kept in mind when long-term treatment of corrosive stricture by repeated esophageal dilatation is planned. Prior cases of brain abscess following esophageal dilatation are reviewed.