Esophageal dilation in eosinophilic esophagitis

Solid-food dysphagia and food impaction are the hallmark symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and are a result of subepithelial fibrosis, leading to esophageal stricture formation and loss of compliance of the esophagus. This fibrosis can be mechanically disrupted by esophageal dilation, which leads to a significant improvement in dysphagia in more than 80% of patients. The esophageal mucosa is quite fragile in patients with EoE, and dilation frequently leads to deep mucosal tears. The risk of esophageal perforation with dilation in EoE is likely increased over that seen with dilation in other benign esophageal diseases, but this risk has been overestimated in the earlier literature.

Source: Techniques in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - February 12, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Jeffrey A. Alexander Source Type: research