Clinical, Imaging, and Pathologic Features of Conditions with Combined Esophageal and Cutaneous Manifestations

CT Evaluation of the Esophagus: The Role of CT Imaging and CT Imaging Findings in Diagnosing Esophageal Abnormalities

Esophageal disorders are commonly encountered by radiologists on computed tomography. Characteristic computed tomography findings of various esophageal pathologies have been extensively described and are important for the radiologist to know to facilitate accurate and timely diagnosis. Esophageal disorders can be broadly classified as infectious and inflammatory, congenital/structural, or neoplastic. This paper reviews the most common presentations of various esophageal pathologies within each classification.

Esophageal Manifestations of Dermatological Diseases, Diagnosis and Management

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this article is to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect both the skin and the esophagus.

Recent Findings

The diagnosis of dermatological conditions that affect the esophagus often requires endoscopy and biopsy with some conditions requiring further investigation with serology, immunofluorescence, manometry, or genetic testing. Many conditions that affect the skin and esophagus can be treated successfully with systemic steroids and immunosuppressants including pemphigus, pemphigoid, HIV, esophageal lichen planus, and Crohn's disease. Many conditions are associated with esophageal strictures which are treated with endoscopic dilation. Furthermore, many of the diseases are pre-malignant and require vigilance and surveillance endoscopy.

Summary

Diseases that affect the skin and esophagus can be grouped by their underlying etiology: autoimmune (scleroderma, dermatomyositis, pemphigus, pemphigoid), infectious (herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus), inflammatory (lichen planus and Crohn's disease), and genetic (epidermolysis bullosa, Cowden syndrome, focal dermal hypoplasia, and tylosis). It is important to consider primary skin conditions that affect the esophagus when patients present with dysphagia of unknown etiology and characteristic skin findings.

Pityriasis Lichenoides Chronica of Esophagus: A Rare Case Report

Pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC) is an uncommon inflammatory skin condition of unknown cause that ranges from a mild chronic form to a more severe acute eruption. Both forms usually involve the skin of the trunk and proximal extremities, and visceral involvement is not a well-described phenomenon. Here, we report a case of PLC that presented with esophageal involvement that occurred after a period of discontinuation of PLC treatment. The histological pattern of involvement is in the form of lymphocytic esophagitis, a non-specific pattern with a broad differential diagnosis. Awareness of the potential involvement of the esophagus and attention to certain endoscopic and morphological details may better help classify esophagitis biopsies and the diagnosis of this rare non-neoplastic chronic inflammatory disease. To our knowledge, this is the first-ever case of PLC with esophageal involvement, and nothing has been reported in the English literature earlier.

Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Immunodeficiency: Imaging Spectrum

There is a wide spectrum of hereditary and acquired immunodeficiency disorders that are characterized by specific abnormalities involving a plethora of humoral, cellular, and phagocytic immunologic pathways. These include distinctive primary immunodeficiency syndromes due to characteristic genetic defects and secondary immunodeficiency syndromes, such as AIDS from HIV infection and therapy-related immunosuppression in patients with cancers or a solid organ or stem cell transplant. The gut mucosa and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (the largest lymphoid organ in the body), along with diverse commensal microbiota, play complex and critical roles in development and modulation of the immune system. Thus, myriad gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in immunocompromised patients and may be due to inflammatory conditions (graft versus host disease, neutropenic enterocolitis, or HIV-related proctocolitis), opportunistic infections (viral, bacterial, fungal, or protozoal), or malignancies (Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder, or anal cancer). GI tract involvement in immunodeficient patients contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. Along with endoscopy and histopathologic evaluation, imaging plays an integral role in detection, localization, characterization, and distinction of GI tract manifestations of various immunodeficiency syndromes and their complications. Select disorders demonstrate characteristic findings at fluoroscopy, CT, US, and MRI that permit timely and accurate diagnosis. While neutropenic enterocolitis affects the terminal ileum and right colon and occurs in patients receiving chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies, Kaposi sarcoma commonly manifests as bull's-eye lesions in the stomach and duodenum. Imaging is invaluable in treatment follow-up and long-term surveillance as well. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2022.

Analysis of the Diagnostic Effect of EUS-RTE on Giant Cystic Tumours of the Oesophagus Based on Cluster Analysis

This paper presents an in-depth analysis and study of the diagnostic effectiveness of EUS-RTE in giant cystic tumours of the oesophagus utilizing cluster analysis. A new form of interval data expression was designed based on the cluster analysis algorithm, as well as a new way of updating the cluster radius and cluster centre. Feature triads are defined, eliminating the need to access all historical data at the time of update. It also prevents the case of overfusion of clusters and outputting only one cluster. If there exist a very low number of clusters, the newly merged clusters are reclustered according to the density clustering method for the internal data objects based on the cluster segmentation so that the data objects in the same cluster have a high similarity as possible. All accumulated electronic files of oesophageal cancer cases were collected and comprehensively organized, and all clinical data of 129 eligible cases with a total of 356 consultations were screened in strict accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria. A database of oesophageal cancer cases was established using Visual FoxPro software, and frequency distribution, cluster analysis, association rule, and chi-square test were used to focus on mining the association between symptoms, disease mechanisms, prescriptions, and medications. The results were analysed and summarized. Overall, the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the three groups of treatment modalities for gastric mesenchymal tumours were positive, and the preoperative endoscopic treatment modalities should be selected based on the EUS-RTE characteristics of the tumour, the site, and the operator's skill level in a comprehensive manner.

Dots, lines, contours, and ends: An image-based review of esophageal pathology

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Learning Point #1: Small ulcers on esophagography are usually attributable to herpes esophagitis and drug-induced esophagitis. Although rare, Crohn’s disease may produce small apthoid ulcers. Large ulcers are usually attributable to CMV or HIV esophagitis.

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Learning Point #2: The early findings of candida are plaques that mimic glycogenic acanthosis. When plaques are seen, consider early candida or glycogenic acanthosis. When shaggy esophagus is identified, consider candidiasis.

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Learning Point #3: Varices and varicoid esophageal carcinoma may appear similar on imaging. The presence of obstruction and lack of change with time and position should sway the Radiologist to diagnosing varicoid esophageal carcinoma.

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Learning Point #4: Transverse esophageal lines should suggest the entities of feline esophagus and idiopathic eosinophilic esophagitis.

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Learning Point #5: Esophageal contour abnormalities may suggest extrinsic or intrinsic lesions. Extrinsic lesions include aberrant vessels. Intrinsic lesions include intramural pseudodiverticulosis, gastroesophageal reflux, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer.

Esophageal pathologies encountered on fluoroscopic examination may pose a diagnostic challenge to the interpreting Radiologist. Understanding the varied imaging appearances of esophageal pathology requires a thorough understanding of barium esophagography. This article reviews the various fluoroscopic imaging findings of different esophageal pathologies by describing an approach to image interpretation centered on dots, lines, contours, and ends. By utilizing this approach, the Radiologist will be better positioned to reconcile seemingly disparate pathologies into a cogent and succinct differential diagnosis.