No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans

This retrospective study was undertaken to characterize the endoscopic and histopathologic pattern of patients with gastro-esophageal reflux with esophagistis. We investigated 58 patients (24 women, 34 men: mean age 44.33 years). The histopathologic pattern was classified in 3 grades: Grade 1: 19 patients, grade 2: 18 patients, grade 3: 21 patients. The sex ratio, age, endoscopic and particular histopathologic pattern was discussed. We conclude that the gastro-esophageal reflux disease is a common complaint in adult population. Despite it is not a severe damage, it can complicate to Barret’s oesophagus, a premalignant lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Gastroesophageal Reflux ; diagnosis ; Esophagitis

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is a chronic disease. It develops along life, more likely recurrent, usually by some months after treatment with responses. This disease apperances in every ages, even in children and newborns, but it is more common at the age over 40 years old with the top age from 50 to 70 years old. The prevelence of disease changed from 10% to 36%. Diagnosis and treatment played an important role in preventation of complications. Pain and hemoghlobin are two complications. Causes gastro-esophageal reflux is very complex. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is caused by many reasons and the other reasons also have different effects in each patient, even in each time on the same patient
Gastroesophageal Reflux ; diagnosis ; Therapeutics ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

No abstract available.
Diagnosis, Differential* ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration*

PURPOSE: There are many articles about the role of barium esophagography for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, there are only rare articles reporting on laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of performing esophagography with the water-siphon test as an initial screening test for patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2002 to December 2004, barium esophagography with the water-siphon test was performed for 707 patients who had the typical symptoms and telescopic findings of laryngopharyngeal reflux. The results of the 707 esophagograms (the group with laryngopharyngeal reflux) were compared with those of 122 patients who were confirmed as having gastroesophageal reflux upon performing pH-metry (the group with gastroesophageal reflux) and the 324 patients without laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms (the control group). The results of the water-siphon test were classified into normal, mild, moderate and severe degrees of gastroesophageal reflux. RESULTS: On the water-siphon test for the laryngopharyneal reflux group patients, 71 patients had normal (10.0%), 207 had mild (29.2%), 201 had moderate (28.4%) and 228 had severe (32.2%) degrees of reflux. The positive rates of the water-siphon test were 90.0%, 89.3% and 54.6% for the groups with laryngopharyngeal reflux, gastroesophageal reflux and the control group, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between the group with laryngopharyngeal reflux and the control group, and between the group with gastroesophageal reflux and the control group, respectively (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Esophagography with the water-siphon test is useful as an initial screening test for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.
Barium ; Diagnosis ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux* ; Mass Screening*

Barrett's esophagus is an acquired condition in which the stratified squamous epithelium is replaced by metaplastic, intestinal-type columnar epithelium. It develops as a result of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, and predisposes to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. This review is focused on histologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus.
Adenocarcinoma ; Barrett Esophagus* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelium ; Gastroesophageal Reflux

Nowadays the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) seems to be increasing in Korea, and many physicians are concerned about the disorder. However GERD has a broad spectrum of symptoms, and diverse diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In addition, the prevalence, symptomatology, clinical pictures, and even diagnosis and treatment approaches of GERD are different between in Korea and in Western countries. In this review I will discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with GERD, especially from a Korean point of view
Diagnosis* ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Korea ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although flexible spectral imaging color enhancement (FICE) can facilitate the diagnosis of minimal change esophageal reflux disease (MERD), the complicated diagnostic criteria cause suboptimal inter-observer agreement. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) yields good diagnostic results but its inter-observer agreement has never been explored. This study compares the diagnostic value of magnifying FICE and probe-based CLE (pCLE) for MERD and evaluates the inter-observer agreement of both techniques. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with suspected MERD and 18 asymptomatic controls were recruited. Magnifying FICE was used for evaluation of distal esophagus. pCLE counted the number of intrapapillary capillary loops (IPCLs) using more than five IPCLs in 500×500 micron area as a criterion for MERD diagnosis. The validity scores and interobserever agreement of both FICE and pCLE were assessed. RESULTS: For FICE vs. pCLE, the accuracy was 79% vs. 87%, sensitivity 94% vs. 97%, specificity 50% vs. 66%, positive predictive value 79% vs. 85%, and negative predictive value 82% vs. 92%. Interobserver agreement of FICE was fair to substantial, whereas pCLE had substantial to almost perfect agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Both FICE and pCLE have good operating characteristics and can facilitate the MERD diagnosis. However, among different observers, pCLE is more consistent on MERD diagnosis.
Capillaries ; Diagnosis ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is based on the typical symptoms, such as acid regurgitation and heartburn. However, there is a very high inter-observer variation in the evaluation of GERD patients. METHODS: The endoscopic images of forty-two cases with reflux symptoms (2 still images and 15-second video images per case) were analyzed by 18 experienced endoscopists and 22 trainees. The findings were classified into the following: (1) 6 groups (modified LA classification: 4 LA groups, minimal, and normal), (2) erosinve and non-erosive, and (3) confluent erosive and others. The level of inter-observer variation is expressed as a kappa value. RESULTS: The level of inter-observer agreement of the 18 experienced endoscopists for classifying the patients into 6 groups was fairly low (kappa=0.364). However, when the findings were classified into the 2 groups suggested in the Genval workshop (NERD, A, or B versus C or D), the level of inter- observer agreement increased substantially (kappa=0.710). The kappa value of the 22 trainees for classifying the patients into 6 groups was 0.402. CONCLUSIONS: Modified LA classification with minimal change lesions showed a fairly low level of agreement. The problem caused by inter-observer variations decreased significantly when the findings were classified into two groups.
Classification ; Diagnosis* ; Education ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Heartburn ; Humans ; Observer Variation*

Achalasia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are on opposite ends of the spectrum of lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction. Heartburn is the main symptom of GERD. However, heartburn and regurgitation are frequently observed in patients who have achalasia. The diagnosis of achalasia might be delayed because these symptoms are misinterpreted as gastroesophageal reflux. Here, we reviewed the clinical characteristics of patients with the erroneous diagnosis of GERD who actually had untreated achalasia.
Diagnosis ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Heartburn ; Humans