Open AccessCrohnʼs Disease of the Esophagus
Author(s) -
William R. Treem,
Bruce D. Ragsdale
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/00005176-198805000-00024
Subject(s) - medicine , odynophagia , dysphagia , gastroenterology , esophagus , esophagitis , disease , surgery , reflux
Esophageal involvement with Crohn's disease has been rarely reported and pathologic documentation of granulomatous disease is often missing. A 12-year-old boy who presented initially with dysphagia, odynophagia, and weight loss was found to have granulomatous esophagitis, gastritis, and subsequent colitis by endoscopic examination. Esophageal manometry showed a hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter with normal peristalsis and sphincter relaxation. The esophageal symptoms responded to oral steroids and sulfasalazine without any specific treatment for acid peptic disease. This case is the youngest reported patient with Crohn's disease of the esophagus. A review of the medical literature illustrates salient clinical, radiographic, endoscopic, and pathologic features of esophageal involvement in Crohn's disease. This case and the summarized cases emphasize the potential significance of esophageal symptoms in patients with Crohn's disease.