Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus after repair of atresia

Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal cancer following oesophageal atresia repair: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Concern exists that patients born with oesophageal atresia (OA) may be at high risk for Barrett's oesophagus (BO), a known malignant precursor to the development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Screening endoscopy has a role in early BO identification but is not universal in this population. This study aimed to determine prevalence of BO after OA repair surgery, to quantify the magnitude of this association and inform the need for screening and surveillance.

METHODS

A systematic review, undertaken according to PRISMA guidelines, was preregistered on PROSPERO (CRD42017081001). PubMed and EMBASE were interrogated using a standardized search strategy on 31 July 2020. Included papers, published in English, reported either: one or more patients with either BO (gastric/intestinal metaplasia) or oesophageal cancer in patients born with OA; or long-term (greater than 2 years) follow-up after OA surgery with or without endoscopic screening or surveillance.

RESULTS

Some 134 studies were identified, including 19 case reports or series and 115 single- or multi-centre cohort studies. There were 13 cases of oesophageal cancer (9 squamous cell carcinoma, 4 adenocarcinoma) with a mean age at diagnosis of 40.5 (range 20-47) years. From 6282 patients under long-term follow-up, 317 patients with BO were reported. Overall prevalence of BO was 5.0 (95 per cent c.i. 4.5 to 5.6) per cent, with a mean age at detection of 13.8 years (range 8 months to 56 years). Prevalence of BO in series reporting endoscopic screening or surveillance was 12.8 (95 per cent c.i. 11.3 to 14.5) per cent.

CONCLUSION

Despite a limited number of cancers, the prevalence of BO in patients born with OA is relatively high. While limited by the quality of available evidence, this review suggests endoscopic screening and surveillance may be warranted, but uncertainties remain over the design and effectiveness of any putative programme.

How to Care for Patients with EA-TEF: The Known and the Unknown

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Guidelines were recently published highlighting why esophageal atresia (EA) patients are prone to complication risks, and the need for long-term follow-up. In this review, we will focus on how to investigate and treat potential complications, as well as the pros and cons of different investigative and treatment modalities, and what areas continue to need further research.

RECENT FINDINGS

EA patients are at high risk for gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal strictures, and the sequela that result. Extraintestinal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can appear similar to other pathologic diagnoses commonly found in EA patients, such as congenital stricture, eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal dysmotility, tracheomalacia, recurrent fistula, aspiration, etc. Therefore, it is important to have a standardized way to monitor for these issues. pH impedance allows for detection of nonacid reflux and the height of reflux, which are important in correlating symptoms with reflux episodes. A multidisciplinary approach is beneficial in evaluating and monitoring EA patients in the long term.

Inlet patch: clinical presentation and outcome in children

OBJECTIVES

An inlet patch (IP) is defined as heterotopic gastric mucosa located in the proximal esophagus. Little information is available in children. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess clinical significance, endoscopic and histological characteristics, and natural history of IP in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective multicenter study included all of the cases of IP recorded in 7 tertiary French pediatric gastrointestinal centers. Information about demographics, clinical symptoms, endoscopic characteristics, histology, treatment, and evolution was collected.

RESULTS

Fifteen children were included (8 boys, 7 girls). The median age at diagnosis was 9.5 years (range 3.3-15 years). Five children had esophageal atresia and 9 had gastroesophageal reflux. Only 1 child was asymptomatic. Digestive symptoms (dysphagia, food impaction) were noted in 14 patients and respiratory or ear, nose, and throat symptoms in 6. At endoscopy, IP was characterized by a small, round salmon-pink lesion of the proximal esophagus. Helicobacter pylori was found in 2 patients. Proton pump inhibitor treatment was initiated in 14 children for a mean duration of 4.7 months (range 1-12 months). Two patients were lost to follow-up. Clinical symptoms disappeared in 5 patients and decreased in 3 others. One case of hematemesis was noted after a mean follow-up of 9 months. Recurrent symptoms were noted in 2 patients after treatment discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

IP is an uncommon but almost certainly underrecognized lesion in children, and may be the cause of digestive and respiratory symptoms in some children.

Heterotopic gastric mucosa of the upper esophagus following repair of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula

A term female newborn underwent uncomplicated repair of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (type C) then coarctation of the aorta. Subsequently, she developed symptomatic esophageal strictures, which required serial dilations. In addition, she suffered feeding intolerance from esophageal dysmotility and gastroesophageal reflux disease, necessitating Nissen fundoplication with gastrostomy. At 6 years of age, surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed mild stenosis and heterotopic gastric mucosa of the upper esophagus at the level of the anastomosis. This is the second report of heterotopic gastric mucosa of the upper esophagus at the level of the anastomosis following repair of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula.

Recurrent gastrointestinal tract bleeding secondary to jejunal gastric heterotopia

A 4-year-old Latino boy with a history of malrotation, nonobstructing annular pancreas, and a Ladd procedure during infancy presented with recurrent severe gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Investigations revealed a large mass in the proximal small bowel. At laparotomy, the proximal jejunal segment containing the mass was resected. Pathological examinations revealed a large intraluminal polyp composed of ectopic gastric mucosa. The patient presented 10 months later with recurrent bleeding, and subsequent laparotomy demonstrated a newly acquired segment of jejunal polyposis not present at the first operation. The case is presented, along with a plan of patient surveillance and a review of the pertinent literature.