[Congenital esophageal stenosis: diagnosis and treatment. Cases review]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Medical Genetics

Background:

• Congenital esophageal stenosis is an exceptionally rare condition with no established standard treatment protocols.
• Early diagnosis and effective management are crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the diagnosis, treatment strategies, and outcomes of 11 patients diagnosed with congenital esophageal stenosis.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different treatment modalities, including surgical intervention and balloon dilatation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 11 patients diagnosed with congenital esophageal stenosis.
• Diagnosis confirmed via esophagogram.
• Treatment included surgical intervention and/or balloon dilatation.

Main Results:

• The most frequent presenting symptom was dysphagia.
• The mean age at diagnosis was 4.7 years (range: 1 day to 14 years).
• Five patients had associated anomalies; 4 underwent surgery, while 7 were treated with balloon dilatations. Pathological findings included fibromuscular stenosis and tracheobronchial remnants.
• All patients achieved good outcomes with a mean follow-up of 4.5 years.

Conclusions:

• Balloon dilatation emerged as the definitive and most successful treatment for the majority of patients.
• Congenital esophageal stenosis, though rare, can be effectively managed with a combination of diagnostic imaging and tailored therapeutic approaches.