Objective: This study aims to describe the clinicodemographic profile of patients with foreign bodies in the upper aerodigestive tract and their treatment outcomes. Methods: Design: Retrospective review of records. Setting: Tertiary Government Training Hospital. Participants: Records of 304 patients diagnosed with aerodigestive foreign bodies Results: Three hundred-four (304) patients were included. The median age was 5.26 years in the pediatric age group and 42.53 years in the adult age group, with a male-to female ratio = 1.97:1. Foreign bodies were ingested in 291 (96%) patients while aspiration occurred in 13 (4%). Overall, 211 (69%) of cases involved the pediatric population (<19 years) and 93 (31%) the adult population. The most common foreign bodies reported were coins (63.5%), food (18.1%), and dentures (11.5%). Most esophageal foreign bodies (244/291; 83%) were seen at the cricopharyngeal level in all age groups. The foreign body was removed successfully in 288/291 (98%) of ingestion cases. All 13 cases of foreign body aspiration were successfully removed by bronchoscopy. All patients were discharged improved. Conclusion Most upper aerodigestive tract foreign bodies involved the pediatric age group. Predisposing conditions were mainly due to accidental ingestion and aspiration while playing in the pediatric population and negligence in eating among adults. Almost all ingestion cases were successfully treated with esophagoscopy, while all aspirations were treated successfully with bronchoscopy. Most intraoperative and postoperative complications who were managed conservatively by observation, although some cases required referral to other surgical departments and were treated surgically. All patients were discharged improved.
Foreign Bodies ; Eating ; Esophagoscopy ; Bronchoscopy

Metachronous double cancer of primary early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and invasive thymoma is a very rare condition. The invasive thymoma had been detected during the myathenia gravis evaluation and treated by radiation therapy 5 years ago. The esophageal lesion had a nodular-surfaced flat elevation at the mid-esophagus that was found by esophagoscopy. Radical resection for the lesions was undertaken after histologic confirmation. Postoperative pathologic examination documented that the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was in the "early" stage involving the mucosal and submucosal layer only. We report a case of early esophageal cancer associated with invasive thyrnoma with literatures review.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Esophagoscopy ; Thymoma*

Esophageal ulcers induced by doxycycline is a rare complication. These patients usually complain of sudden onset of symptoms, ie acute substernal or chest pain and odynophagia without prior hietory of esophageal syraptoms. On esophagoscopic examination, there are upper or midesophageal ulcers, which heal after diseontinuation of the drug within 2 weeks. A history of ingestion of the doxycycline,with liquid jost before bedtime can be elicited. The exact eause of the xaucosal ulceration is not clear, but a direct irritant effeet on esophageal mucosa seems most likely. We report 5 cases of esophageal uleeration secondary to the ingestion of doxycydine. Esophagoscopy revealed esophageal ulcers in all patients and the patients hecame asymptomatic following stopping of tbe drugs and taking antacids.
Antacids ; Chest Pain ; Doxycycline* ; Eating ; Esophagoscopy ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Ulcer*

Papillary carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the thyroid gland, and it only infrequently invades the upper aerodigestive tract. When such invasion does occur, it is a source of significant morbidity as well as mortality. Although most thyroid tumors first clinically manifest as a neck mass, there have been few reports of patients whose initial compliant was a disturbance of the aerodigestive tract. The patient in our present study had no significant past medical history, and esophagoscopy and biopsy revealed papillary adenocarcinoma. We report here on a case of thyroid papillary carcinoma that was diagnosed by esophagoscopic biopsy.
Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Esophagoscopy ; Humans ; Neck ; Thyroid Gland

Esophageal Achalasia/surgery* ; Esophagoscopy ; Humans ; Muscles ; Myotomy ; Tissue Adhesions

To be on the alert on infants with esophageal foreign body, and to pay more attention to the button battery esophageal foreign body, the clinical data of a 12-month-old infant with button battery esophageal foreign body, which was missed diagnosis for up to 4 months, is analyzed. And the related literature is reviewed. An esophagoscopy was carried out to remove the foreign body. A favorable outcome was achieved. When the infants have unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, we should consider the possibility of an esophageal foreign body. We should pay attention to the button battery due to its highly corrosive to the esophagus. Timely diagnosis, reasonable operation are the keys to cure.
Electric Power Supplies ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant

A male patient, 49 years old with drug use, swallowed a toothbrush and a tube of 20 centimeters long which lead to the upper abdomen pain for six years. The gastroscopy examination showed the head of the toothbrush in the gastric antrum and the tail inserting in the pylorus. The intragastric toothbrush was removed by the gastroscopy combining with esophagoscopy.
Esophagoscopy ; Foreign Bodies ; surgery ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is defined as a condition which develops when the reflux of gastric contents causes troublesome symptoms and long-term complications. GERD can be divided into erosive reflux disease and non-erosive reflux disease based on endoscopic findings defined by the presence of mucosal break. The Los Angeles classification excludes minimal changes as an evidence of reflux esophagitis because of poor interobserver agreement. In the Asian literature, minimal changes are considered as one of the endoscopic findings of reflux esophagitis, but the clinical significance is still controversial. Minimal change esophagitis is recognized quite frequently among patients with GERD and many endoscopists recognize such findings in their clinical practice. This review is intended to clarify the definition of minimal change esophagitis and their histology, interobserver agreement, and symptom association with GERD.
Esophagitis/pathology ; Esophagoscopy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/classification/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane/pathology

Esophageal perforation is uncommon, however, due to the lack of serosa, inflammation spread is rapid and common to neighboring structures, causing mortality and morbidity. Initial symptoms for esophageal perforation have not been clarified, but when the diagnosis and proper treatment is delayed, its clinical course is fatal. Prompt recognition and proper treatment of esophageal perforation or rupture is mandatory. We report a case of 21-year-old man patient with esophageal perforation after anterior fusion of the cervical spine. Diagnosis was made by clinical suspicion and confirmed by esophagography and esophagoscopy. The patient was successfully treated by primary closure with good clinical course.
Diagnosis ; Esophageal Perforation* ; Esophagoscopy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mortality ; Rupture ; Serous Membrane ; Spinal Fusion* ; Spine ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The management of penetrating neck injuries presents a difficult problem. Although many authors have stated that surgical exploration should be mandatory for all neck injuries that penetrate platysma, recent reports from many centers now claim selective exploration. The aim of this study was to review a policy of selective neck exploration based on clinical presentation, anatomic location, and the result of diagnostic studies. METHOD: We reviewed retrospectively medical records of 66 patients who were admitted and managed at Yongdong Severance hospital, Yonsei university college of medicine due to penetrating neck injuries from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1996. RESULTS: Forty-one patients(62%) were underwent immediate neck exploration, while the remaining 25 patients(38%) were admitted and observed. Three had esophagoscopy, four had esophagogram, and three had direct laryngoscopy, all of which revealed normal result except one patient had blood tinged larynx on laryngoscopy. Results of 12 neck explorations(29%) were negative. There was no delayed diagnosis during conservative treatment. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: We concluded that selective exploration of penetrating neck injuries is both safe and resonable.
Delayed Diagnosis ; Esophagoscopy ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Larynx ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Neck Injuries* ; Neck* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tolnaftate