Open AccessEctopic sebaceous gland in the esophagus—Case reports and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Jhang LinSuei,
Hung ChienYuan,
Shieh TzeYu,
Chang ChenWang,
Wang HorngYuan,
Shih ShouChuan,
Chen MingJen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advances in digestive medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2351-9800
DOI - 10.1016/j.aidm.2015.02.001
Subject(s) - esophagogastroduodenoscopy , esophagus , medicine , xanthoma , sebaceous gland , asymptomatic , pathology , biopsy , endoscopy , radiology , anatomy
Summary Ectopic sebaceous glands (ESGs) are benign esophageal lesions that have a lower detection rate than malignant lesions because most patients are asymptomatic. However, this rate can be increased by the widespread use of endoscopes and an increasing awareness of the disease. Through esophagogastroduodenoscopy, ESGs often appear in the middle and lower esophagus in numbers ranging from 1 to more than 100 yellowish plaques measuring 1–2 mm in diameter. Histopathological examination of ESGs would reveal small lobular cluster glands in the lamina propria. Diagnosis is usually confirmed through an endoscopic biopsy. ESGs are best distinguished from other yellowish lesions such as xanthoma via endoscopy. These lesions tend to appear singly scattered, whereas xanthomas tend to be clustered. We present three cases of ESGs in the esophagus. Although their etiologies are still unclear, we present related theories in our review.