Esophageal Mucosal Injuries From Drugs, Radiation, and Caustic Agents

Various factors can lead to esophageal mucosal injury. A thorough patient history is crucial to accurately diagnose esophageal injuries caused by drugs, radiation, and caustic agents. These conditions are often identifiable based on characteristic clinical features, concomitant diseases, and endoscopic findings and do not necessarily require histological confirmation through biopsies. Regardless of the underlying cause, avoiding or minimizing the offending agent is essential for preventing further mucosal damage. In cases where this is unavoidable, such as radiationinduced esophageal injuries, careful adjustment of the radiation dose, field, and frequency is necessary. Additionally, the use of mucosal protective agents and adherence to a soft diet can help regenerate the mucosal epithelium. Esophageal mucosal injuries can cause chronic complications, such as esophageal strictures; therefore, they require close monitoring. Notably, injuries induced by caustic agents carry an increased risk of progression to esophageal cancer, underscoring the importance of long-term surveillance.