Reflux esophagitis: radiologic-endoscopic correlation in 39 symptomatic cases.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Radiology
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Reflux esophagitis is a common condition causing esophageal inflammation due to stomach acid reflux.
• Accurate and early diagnosis is crucial for effective management and preventing complications.
• Conventional diagnostic methods include endoscopy with biopsy, which can be invasive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of double contrast upper gastrointestinal series in diagnosing reflux esophagitis.
• To determine if a significant increase in the distal or cardiac esophageal diameter (IDCE) is indicative of reflux esophagitis.
• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of radiology with endoscopy and biopsy.

Main Methods:

• A double contrast upper gastrointestinal series was performed on 39 patients with reflux esophagitis symptoms.
• A control group of 164 asymptomatic patients underwent the same radiological examination.
• Endoscopy with biopsy was used as the gold standard for diagnosis in the patient group.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in the distal or cardiac esophageal diameter (IDCE) was observed in patients with Grades 1 and 2 esophagitis compared to controls (p < 0.001).
• Radiology correctly diagnosed 35 out of 39 patients (89.7%) with reflux esophagitis.
• The majority of diagnosed patients exhibited mild endoscopic signs of esophagitis.

Conclusions:

• Double contrast upper gastrointestinal series is a valuable non-invasive tool for diagnosing reflux esophagitis.
• Increased distal or cardiac esophageal diameter (IDCE) is a significant radiological marker for reflux esophagitis.
• Radiological findings correlate well with endoscopic and biopsy results, offering high diagnostic accuracy.