Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
Aortic Ring Assay
Published on: November 24, 2009
Schatzki ring in pediatric and young adult patients
Alexander J Towbin1, Lincoln O Diniz
1Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., ML 5031, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. alexander.towbin@cchmc.org
Insights
Schatzki rings (SR) are rare in children, often linked to hiatal hernia (HH), eosinophilic esophagitis (EE), and gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Endoscopy is recommended for pediatric SR diagnosis due to high EE association.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Esophageal Disorders
Background:
- Schatzki rings (SR) are infrequently diagnosed in pediatric patients.
- Previous studies suggest associations between SR and conditions like gastroesophageal reflux (GER), hiatal hernia (HH), and eosinophilic esophagitis (EE).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of SR in children.
- To identify the frequency of associated conditions, including HH, EE, and GER, in pediatric patients with SR.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of radiology reports from January 2000 to December 2009 was conducted.
- Radiology reports and electronic medical records were analyzed to confirm SR diagnosis and identify associated findings in pediatric patients.
Main Results:
- Out of 15,410 children and young adults, 25 (0.2%) were diagnosed with SR.
- Associated conditions included hiatal hernia (96%), eosinophilic esophagitis (40%), and gastroesophageal reflux (40%).
Conclusions:
- Schatzki rings are rare in the pediatric population.
- Hiatal hernia, eosinophilic esophagitis, and GER are commonly associated with SR in children.
- Given the high prevalence of EE, endoscopy and biopsy are recommended for children diagnosed with SR.
Background:
A Schatzki ring (SR) is an uncommon finding in children. Entities previously associated with an SR include gastroesophageal reflux (GER), hiatal hernia (HH) and eosinophilic esophagitis (EE).
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall incidence of SR and the frequency of the different entities associated with SR in the pediatric population.
Materials And Methods:
All radiology reports finalized between January 2000 and December 2009 were queried to identify patients with an SR. Each study identified through the search was reviewed to confirm the presence of a SR. The patient's electronic medical record was then searched to identify all associated findings.
Results:
A total of 18,668 upper gastrointestinal (GI) examinations or esophagrams were performed in 15,410 children and young adults during the study period. After reviewing the reports and images, 25 patients (0.2% of all patients) were confirmed to have a SR. Of these 24 patients (96%) had HH; 10/25 (40%) had EE, and 10/25 (40%) had GER.
Conclusion:
SR is a rare diagnosis in children. Three entities are commonly associated with a ring: HH, EE and GER. Because of the relatively high incidence of EE, endoscopy and biopsy should be considered whenever a SR is identified in a child.
