Title:Lymphocytic Esophagitis: A Case Series of Esophageal Disease with
Increasing Frequency
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Author(s): Mohamad Yousef, Harleen Chela, Hamza Ertugrul, Abdulmajeed Albarrak, Omer Basar, Syed Pasha, Yousef Mousa, Alhareth Al Juboori, Shellaine Frazier, Veysel Tahan*Ebubekir Daglilar
Affiliation:
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia,
Missouri, Mo, USA
Keywords:
Lymphocytic esophagitis, reflux disease, inflammation, dysphagia, heartburn, regurgitation.
Abstract:
Background: Lymphocytic esophagitis (LE) is a poorly understood clinical finding that
has been increasingly identified in the last decade. Previous studies proposed increased frequency
of LE in elderly females, as well as associations with smoking and pediatric Crohn’s disease.
Objective: We aimed to determine the patient characteristics and clinical features of our adult LE
patients. As inflammation in the esophagus has been linked to cancer, this review also describes
this association. However, there are no reported cases of malignant transformation in those with
underlying lymphocytic esophagitis.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records for patients at the University of Missouri Hospital-
Columbia (located in the USA) who had a histopathological diagnosis of LE. Cases of LE were
identified using the pathology reporting system at the University of Missouri Hospital for esophageal
biopsy specimens for the above-mentioned period.
Results: The data of a total of 20 adult cases with esophageal biopsy specimens consistent with
LE were included.
Conclusion:LE seems to be a benign but disturbing clinical problem and should be remembered
in elderly females complaining of dysphagia or refractory reflux symptoms. It has similar endoscopic
findings of eosinophilic esophagitis with rings and esophagitis. Smoking and hiatal hernia
are common risk factors. The majority of LE patients can respond to proton pump inhibitor (PPI)
therapy. Endoscopic dilations and steroid therapy should be considered for PPI nonresponder LE
patients.
