Endoscopic findings in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopy has a key role in establishing the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), but endoscopic features of EoE might not be well known. METHODS: All patients aged 18 or older who were diagnosed with EoE from 2008 to 2013 were systematically identified retrospectively and findings at esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) were reviewed by two experienced endoscopists through a query of the university hospital database. Patients in whom biopsies from the esophagus were lacking or inadequate for histopathological examination were excluded. RESULTS: 23 patients (17 male, 6 female) were included into the study (median age: 38 years, range: 19 to 71 years). Patients presented with the following symptoms: 12 (52 %) had bolus obstruction and 18 (78 %) dysphagia and/or chest pain. At EGD, 22 of 23 (96 %) patients were observed with at least one endoscopic feature of EoE, i. e., mucosal edema (52 %), longitudinal furrows (57 %), vertical furrows (48 %), or crêpe paper esophagus (52 %). CONCLUSIONS: Typical endoscopic features were present in most patients in whom EoE was diagnosed. Recognizing typical characteristics of EoE is substantial for establishing the diagnosis and for taking biopsies.