Crohn's disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract

Involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract by Crohn's disease is being recognized with increasing frequency. Gastroduodenal disease is more common, although esophageal disease is now noted infrequently as well. There is nearly always concomitant involvement of the small bowel or colon. Initial phases of the disease are manifested as superficial inflammatory changes of the mucosa but can progress to scarring and stenosis. Optimum double-contrast technique is necessary to detect these early lesions.