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

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

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

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

PURPOSE: We investigated the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring in patients who had chronic cough for more than 3 weeks. METHODS: From January 1995 to August 1996, 33 patients with chronic cough which had lasted for more than 3 weeks were enrolled in the 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring. The result was interpreted with the standard value which was suggested by Yvan Vandenplas in 1991 for patients younger than 15 months and with the De Meester Score for patients older than 15 months. We performed esophagoscopy and lower esophageal biopsy for patients who proved to have gastroesophageal reflux disease by 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring. RESULTS: Among 33 cases, 13 cases (39.4%) were proved to have GERD. Comparing between the normal group and the GERD group, there was no difference of gastroesophageal reflux incidence according to meal or position. We performed esophagoscopy in 10 patients among 13 GERD cases. There were 3 cases of gross esophagitis. Papillary height was elongated by more than 50% of normal in 7 cases, and basal cell layer increased by more than 20% of normal in 6 cases. Neutrophil or eosinophil infiltration was found in 2 cases, and lymphocyte infiltration was found in 7 cases. CONCLUSION: We suggest that 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and appropriate treatment should be considered in prolonged unexplained chronic cough.
Biopsy ; Child* ; Cough* ; Eosinophils ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Esophagitis ; Esophagoscopy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphocytes ; Meals ; Neutrophils

Lower esophageal ring is unique disorder of the esophagus. It is composed entirely of mucosal fold, containing no muscle or scar tissue. It is one of the most common causes of dysphagia of adults, but an unusual cause of dysphagia in pediatric age group. This 14-year old male patient experienced progressive dysphagia for several years. Approximately 15 months prior to this visit, he began having trouble swallowing solid foods and lost body weight during the period. An esophagogram shows lower esophageal ring. Esophagoscopy revealed the ring just above the esophagogastric mucosal junction. The ring made a concentric narrowing that appeared to form a thin shelf in the lower esophagus. The diameter of the esophageal lumen was about 4mm. Then pneumatic balloon dilatation was performed by Rigiflex (r)-TTS dilator under fluoroscopic control. The ring was widened without resistance and symptom of dysphagia relieved. After pneumatic dilatation the diameter of the esophageal lumen increased to 12mm. We report a case of lower esophageal ring in childhood and review of the literatures.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Weight ; Cicatrix ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Dilatation ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Male

Spontaneous submucosal esophageal dissection is a rare disorder, characterized by a longitudinal dissection along the axis of the esophagus between submucosa and muscle layer without an obvious cause. The diagnosis is made by typical esophagographic or endoscopic findings which are double-barreled esophagus in esophagography or mucosal defect in upper esophagus and false lumen running along the distal side of the esophagus on esophagoscopy. The condition usually follows a benign course with good prognosis requiring a supportive treatment, but rarely treated by endoscopy or surgery. A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of chest pain and odynophagia after upper respiratory infection. We diagnosed a case of spontaneous submucosal dissection of the esophagus and observed its healing process by series of endoscopy with a conservative treatment.
Aged ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Chest Pain ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Running