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Patient Presentation. Findings. Thoracic esophagus : stricture 3-4cm in length at the mid esophagus; no extra-luminal contrast extravasation is seen Small bowel follow-through : normal; no evidence of obstruction, stricture, or malrotation. Differential Diagnosis.
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Findings • Thoracic esophagus: stricture 3-4cm in length at the mid esophagus; no extra-luminal contrast extravasation is seen • Small bowel follow-through: normal; no evidence of obstruction, stricture, or malrotation
Differential Diagnosis • Esophagitis – viral, bacterial, caustic, chemical, thermal injury • Stricture – caustic and pill induced, inflammatory (candidal, Crohn’s disease), post-operative, post-irradiation, congenital, tumor • Disorder of esophageal smooth muscle (scleroderma, myopathy, achalasia) • Numerous others – history very important
Lye 101 • a 3 year old boy with suspected esophageal perforation after lye ingestion • Lye: A strong caustic alkaline solution of potassium salts obtained by leaching wood ashes; used in making soaps • A major component in modern drain and sewer openers – used to bleach, soften, scour, and dissolve adherent materials • Ingestion leads to severe corrosive injury, causing perforation and scarring
Extensive necrosis of gastric wall with perforation. Winek et al. Forensic Science International 73 (1995) 146.
Management of Post-Injury Stricture • Dilation (Hurst and Maloney, Tucker, Gruntzig balloon) followed by barium esophagograms • If these methods fail, esophageal replacement is necessary – gastric pull-ups, colonic interpositioning
References Kasper et al. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 16th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2005. Gay and Woodcock. Radiology Recall. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, 2000. Winek et al. Ingestion of Lye. Forensic Science International 1995;73(2):143-7.