Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the cervical esophagus: could this play a role in the pathogenesis of laryngopharyngeal reflux in a subgroup of patients with posterior laryngitis?

A, Ramesh NK, Shaikh MK. Heterotopic Gastric Mucosa in the Proximal Esophagus (Inlet Patch): Endoscopic Prevalence, Clinico-pathological Characteristics and Its Association with Helicobacter pylori

Objective To determine the prevalence of the inlet patch (IP), its clinico-pathological features, and its association with Helicobacter pylori.

Materials and Methods A prospective observational study was performed on 1,889 patients referred for esophagogastroduodenoscopy for various reasons, primarily for the evaluation of dyspepsia. All patients were enquired about the presence of symptoms and carefully examined for the presence of IP during upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. Biopsies were taken from the patients who had IP.

Statistical Analysis All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 13.0 software for Windows XP. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test and continuous variables were compared using Student's t-test and univariate analysis. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results Inlet patches were found in 34 of 1,889 patients (1.8%). H. pylori was identified in 23.52% of patients (8/34) with IP. Gastric H. pylori infection was positive in all (08/08) patients who had IP. Colonization of H. pylori was more common in antral type mucosa (6/8). H. pylori positivity in the IP correlated with globus sensation symptom in our study, 87.5% of patients with IP and H. pylori positive had globus sensation.

Conclusion The prevalence of IP seems to be underestimated. H. pylori colonization of the IP is common and it positively correlates with globus sensation and is closely related to the H. pylori density in the stomach. Though preneoplasia within IP is rare, which does not support the recommendation to regularly obtain biopsies for histopathology, it might be beneficial in a subset of patients with persistent globus sensation.

Is It Barrett's Esophagus or Gastric Heterotopia?

Columnar epithelium in the distal part of the esophagus is generally related to Barrett's esophagus. Barrett's esophagus is a well-known premalignant lesion for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Therefore, its diagnosis and surveillance are important. Columnar epithelium in the esophagus other than Barrett's esophagus can be gastric heterotopia, which generally takes place in the upper part of the esophagus and is named inlet patch. The presence of gastric metaplasia in the distal part of the esophagus is rare and can cause misdiagnosis. Therefore, its differentiation from Barrett's esophagus is important. Here we present a case of gastric heterotopia located in the distal part of the esophagus that caused reflux-like symptoms and needed differentiation from Barrett's esophagus.

Diagnosis and management of laryngo-pharyngeal reflux

The aim of the present paper was to analyze laryngo-pharyngeal reflux (LPR) manifestations in ENT patients, and present a diagnostic and treatment algorithm for appropriate management. Retrospective chart review of 150 patients, who had initially presented with symptoms suggestive of LPR. Treatment included the administration of omeprazole 20 mg twice daily for at least 4 weeks. Unresponsive patients were also given metoclopramide 10 mg twice daily for four additional weeks, and the dose of omeprazole was increased to 40 mg twice daily, if they did not achieve complete symptom resolution. Only patients who became completely asymptomatic after LPR treatment were included in the study. As many as 18 % of patients attending an ENT outpatient department benefited from anti-reflux treatment. A need to clear the throat represented the most common symptom, whereas interarytenoid oedema/congestion was the most common finding on flexible naso-endoscopy (62.67 and 72.7 % of patients, respectively). The vast majority of patients responded after 4 weeks of treatment with omeprazole, however, as many as 32 % of LPR patients achieved complete symptom control after the initial 4 week trial period. LPR seems to be more common than previously reported in the literature. Appropriate management of LPR can prevent the symptomatic use of various medical treatments for related manifestations, and even surgical interventions, thus decreasing the overall patient morbidity.

[Diagnosis and therapy of atypical reflux symptoms when PPI therapy fails]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a frequent chronic disorder occurring in two forms: on the one hand, typical symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation are seen, while on the other hand atypical (extraesophageal) symptoms such as chronic cough, hoarseness, recurrent sinusitis, globus sensations in the throat, a burning feeling on the tongue, dental erosions and the constant need to clear the throat can be associated with gastroesophageal reflux. The standard therapeutic medical procedure comprises the administration of acid-suppressive agents, proton pump inhibitors (PPI). However, this therapy has proved to be ineffective in a number of patients, especially in atypical GERD. Only after reliable identification of the GERD patient by using valid diagnostic tools medical or interventional therapeutic options can be applied individually. In the absence of atypical GERD symptoms, the diagnosis of GERD becomes very unlikely and other causes of the symptoms need to be taken into consideration.

Heterotopic gastric mucosal patch in patients with reflux laryngitis: an entity of clinical interest?

Heterotopic gastric mucosal patch (HGMP) in the upper esophagus has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of laryngopharyngeal reflux. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and possible clinical significance of HGMPs in patients who underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease-induced reflux laryngitis.Forty consecutive patients with pH-proven reflux laryngitis referred to surgery by a specialist in otorhinolaryngology underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication between 1998 and 2002. Twenty-seven (67.5%) of these patients underwent a postoperative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy paying special attention for detecting possible HGMPs in the proximal esophagus. When HGMP was found, biopsies were taken for histologic confirmation. A small histologically confirmed HGMP was detected in 1 out of 27 patients (3.7%). The prevalence of HGMPs in the upper esophagus in this specific patient group operated on for gastroesophageal reflux disease-induced reflux laryngitis equals the reported general prevalence rates of HGMPs detected in patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as a part of gastrointestinal tract evaluation. The role of at least small HGMPs in the proximal esophagus in the pathogenesis of laryngopharyngeal reflux is clinically insignificant.

Is there an association between Helicobacter pylori in the inlet patch and globus sensation?

AIM: To determine the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and globus sensation (GS) in the patients with cervical inlet patch.

METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with esophageal inlet patches were identified from 6760 consecutive patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy prospectively. In these 68 patients with cervical inlet patches, symptoms of globus sensation (lump in the throat), hoarseness, sore throat, frequent clearing of the throat, cough, dysphagia, odynophagia of at least 3 mo duration was questioned prior to endoscopy.

RESULTS: Cervical heterotopic gastric mucosa (CHGM) was found in 68 of 6760 patients. The endoscopic prevalence of CHGM was determined to be 1%. H. pylori was identified in 16 (23.5%) of 68 patients with inlet patch. Fifty-three patients were classified as CHGM II. This group included 48 patients with globus sensation, 4 patients with chronic cough and 1 patient with hoarseness. All the patients who were H. pylori (+) in cervical inlet patches had globus sensation.

CONCLUSION: Often patients with CHGM have a long history of troublesome throat symptoms. We speculate that disturbances in globus sensation are like non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Argon plasma coagulation of cervical heterotopic gastric mucosa as an alternative treatment for globus sensations

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Ablation of gastric inlet patches (GIP) in the cervical esophagus by argon plasma coagulation (APC) can alleviate chronic globus sensations in the throat. We investigated the efficacy of this therapy in a randomized, controlled multicenter trial.

METHODS

Patients with chronic globus sensations and GIP were randomly assigned 1:1 to groups that were treated with APC or a sham procedure (controls). Patients and their referring physicians were blinded to therapy. All patients completed a standardized questionnaire about symptoms before and 3 months after the procedure. Thereafter, control patients were eligible for cross-over therapy. Long-term efficacy was assessed in all patients >or=6 months after APC.

RESULTS

Improvement of symptoms was reported in 9 (82%) of 11 patients who received APC, compared with 0 (0%) of 10 patients in the control group (P = .002). Nine (90%) of 10 patients treated with APC had per protocol healing, compared with 0 (0%) of 9 controls (P < .001). Scores for symptom/globus assessment significantly improved in patients in the APC group, whereas patients in the control group did not perceive any symptom relief. Eight of the 10 patients who started in the control group crossed over to the APC group. Long-term efficacy (after a median follow-up of 17 months) was documented in 13 (76%) of 17 treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Ablation of gastric inlet patches appears to be an effective therapy for alleviation of associated globus sensations. This new treatment modality might change the paradigm for treatment of these patients.

Diagnosis and management of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Laryngopharyngeal reflux should no longer be underestimated because of its negative impact on the lives of patients and its potentially dangerous long-term complications.

RECENT FINDINGS

Both laryngopharyngeal reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease are caused by mucosal injury from acid and pepsin exposure, but the esophagus has intrinsic antireflux defenses that prevent mucosal injury (bicarbonate production, mucosal tissue resistance and esophageal motor function with acid clearance) whereas the pharynx and the larynx do not. Symptoms felt to be most related to reflux (>or= 95%) are throat clearing, persistent cough, heartburn/dyspepsia, globus sensation (lump in the throat) and voice-quality change, while the physical examination findings include (>or= 95%) arytenoid erythema, vocal-cord erythema and edema, posterior commissure hypertrophy, and arytenoid edema. In this regard, the reflux symptom index and the reflux finding score are very useful clinical tools. Patients are proposed an empirical therapeutic trial including behavioural and dietary recommendations and a 3-month twice-daily proton-pump inhibitor therapy. The proton-pump inhibitor should be taken 30-60 min before meals. Nonresponders undergo an assessment, ideally based on esogastroduodenoscopy and ambulatory multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring. Transnasal esophagoscopy in the outpatient setting is a safe alternative. When medical management fails, patients with demonstrable high-volume reflux and lower sphincter incompetence are often candidates for surgical intervention.

SUMMARY

The algorithm proposed by Ford has structured and confirmed our attitude on a day-to-day basis.

Heterotopic gastric mucosa: a significant clinical entity

OBJECTIVE

Despite the apparent lack of clinical interest in the inlet patches of heterotopic gastric mucosa (HGM) in the upper esophagus, the literature contains reports of complications associated with HGM. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical importance of HGM in patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 1033 consecutive outpatients referred for UGE were prospectively evaluated. Clinical, endoscopic and histologic findings were analyzed and 24-h double-channel pH-metry was performed on 20 patients with HGM.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients (5.1%) had HGM lesions. Dysphagia was significantly more frequent in HGM patients (21% versus 4%; p<0.001). Five of the 20 patients who underwent pH-metry presented with acid secretion from HGMs. These five patients had inlet patches of greater size.

CONCLUSIONS

HGMs of the upper esophagus are not infrequent, although generally small and asymptomatic. In cases of large HGMs, acid secretion capacity may cause upper esophageal disorders.