[Benign non-peptic esophageal stenosis: causes, treatment and outcome in routine clinical practice]

Benign non-peptic esophageal stricture (BNES) is a rare condition in routine clinical practice. The distribution of different diseases causing BNES is not known and the efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment in this setting has not been established.

All patients with BNES undergoing endoscopic treatment at our hospital between 2000 and 2006 were assessed retrospectively and questioned by telephone.

A total of 26 patients with BNES had been treated at our institution (median age 65 years, range 15-90) during this period. Common causes were esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis (n=11), caustic ingestion (n=4) and eosinophilic esophagitis (n=3). Other causes were Schatzki (-Gary) ring, incomplete esophageal atresia, heterotopic gastric mucosa, mucosal pemphigoid, spondylotic caused stenosis, epiphrenic diverticulum, unspecified stenosis. Median time until definitive diagnosis was five-and-a-half years. 20 patients were treated by bougienage, 3 were treated by balloon dilatation, 2 by medication alone and one patient did not require treatment. Lasting successful treatment was achieved in all There were no treatment-related complications.

Benign, non-peptic esophageal stricture is a rare condition in routine clinical practice and can be caused by various diseases. Time to exact diagnosis is often very long. When the underlying diagnosis is clear, excellent results of symptomatic endoscopic therapy can be achieved in a gastroenterological center.