title: [Endoscopic & histopathologic features of esophageal ulcers. Considerations in 13 cases].
abstract: Chronic, severe reflux esophagitis can be complicated with an esophageal ulcer (EU), whose histomorphological characteristics change sensibly. Between 1983 and 1989, 18 EU were endoscopically identified in 13 (6%) out of 217 patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux (GER). 2 groups were defined: EU and esophagitis, without columnar-lined esophagus and EU with localized columnar metaplasia or Barrett's esophagus. In the first, 4 Wolf's ulcers (WU) were present; in the second, there were 8 Barrett's ulcers (BU), 2 Savary's ulcers (SU) and 4 ulcers with intermediary characteristics (IU). The 24 h esophageal Ph monitoring demonstrated the reflux pathogenesis in all the patients (57%: alkaline reflux). The histomorphological findings of the EU could support the hypotesis that their variety is related to the different stage of the reflux disease. The EU, started as a peptic lesion on a stratified squamous mucosa (WU), due to an acid, alkaline or mixed reflux, would macroscopically turn into a BU, through intermediary entities (SU, IU), with a progressive extension of columnar metaplasia to the adjacent epithelium and walls. It's not possible to exclude the primitive development of the BU in a Barrett's mucosa, because of an alkaline reflux or because of a low mucosa's resistance (specialized columnar epithelium) to a prolonged acid exposure.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica Generale e Terapia Chirurgica, Università degli Studi di Trieste.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ressetta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ziza
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: La Bruna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cortale
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bucconi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014456:Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
vernacular_title: Caratteristiche endoscopiche ed istopatologiche delle ulcere esofagee. Considerazioni su di una casistica di 13 pazienti.