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Abstract
Involvement of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an infrequent extrathoracic presentation of sarcoidosis. We reviewed 305 cases of GI involvement reported in 238 patients, in whom GI sarcoidosis was the first sign of the disease in half the cases. The disease does not affect the GI tract uniformly, with a clear oral-anal gradient (80% of reported cases involved the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum). Clinicopathological mechanisms of damage may include diffuse mucosal infiltration, endoluminal exophytic lesions, involvement of the myenteric plexus, and extrinsic compressions. Ten percent of patients presented with asymptomatic or subclinical disease found on endoscopy. The diagnosis is relevant clinically because 22% of cases reviewed presented as life threatening. In addition, initial clinical/endoscopic findings may be highly suggestive of GI cancer. The therapeutic approach is heterogeneous and included wait-and-see or symptomatic approaches, glucocorticoid/immunosuppressive therapy, and surgery. Sarcoidosis of the gut is a heterogeneous, potentially life-threatening condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach and early clinical suspicion to institute personalized therapeutic management and follow-up.
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Di Piazza A, Vernuccio F, Costanzo M, Scopelliti L, Picone D, Midiri F, Salvaggi F, Cupido F, Galia M, Salerno S, Lo Casto A, Midiri M, Lo Re G, Lagalla R. The Videofluorographic Swallowing Study in Rheumatologic Diseases: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterol Res Pract 2017; 2017:7659273. [PMID: 28706536 PMCID: PMC5494561 DOI: 10.1155/2017/7659273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune connective tissue diseases are a heterogeneous group of pathologies that affect about 10% of world population with chronic evolution in 20%-80%. Inflammation in autoimmune diseases may lead to serious damage to other organs including the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal tract involvement in these patients may also due to both a direct action of antibodies against organs and pharmacological therapies. Dysphagia is one of the most important symptom, and it is caused by failure of the swallowing function and may lead to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, weight loss, and airway obstruction. The videofluorographic swallowing study is a key diagnostic tool in the detection of swallowing disorders, allowing to make an early diagnosis and to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal and pulmonary complications. This technique helps to identify both functional and structural anomalies of the anatomic chain involved in swallowing function. The aim of this review is to systematically analyze the basis of the pathological involvement of the swallowing function for each rheumatological disease and to show the main features of the videofluorographic study that may be encountered in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Di Piazza
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Costanzo
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Laura Scopelliti
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Dario Picone
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Federico Midiri
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Salvaggi
- Unit of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Ageing Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Cupido
- Department of Surgical, Oncologic and Stomatologic Diseases, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Massimo Galia
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sergio Salerno
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Lo Casto
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Massimo Midiri
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lo Re
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberto Lagalla
- Section of Radiology-Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Esophageal sarcoidosis: a review of cases and an update. ISRN GASTROENTEROLOGY 2013; 2013:836203. [PMID: 23533794 PMCID: PMC3603204 DOI: 10.1155/2013/836203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a chronic disorder that can virtually affect any organ system in the body. Histologically, it is characterized by the presence of T lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, and noncaseating granulomas. Most commonly affected are the intrathoracic structures, with 90% of the reported cases involving the lungs. Esophageal involvement in sarcoidosis is extremely rare. Dysphagia is the most common presentation in these patients and can be attributed to various mechanisms such as direct esophageal wall infiltration, extrinsic compression, cranial neuropathy, and brainstem involvement. A thorough online literature review revealed only 23 reported cases of esophageal involvement in sarcoidosis. This paper reviews these reported cases in detail along with newer diagnostic and treatment options, including direction of future therapy.
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