Schatzki ring in children and young adults: clinical and radiologic findings.
BACKGROUND
The Schatzki ring is a well-known clinical and radiologic entity in adults, but is thought to be rare in childhood. Objective. To review the clinical presentations and radiologic findings of children and young adults with Schatzki rings.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all barium swallow examinations done between 1990 and 1996 revealed 20 patients with Schatzki rings.


RESULTS
The most frequent presenting symptoms of these patients were progressive dysphagia with solid food and acute food impaction. Radiographic findings of Schatzki rings were typical in all cases. Twelve patients had endoscopy and all had evidence of esophagitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Schatzki rings are not rare in childhood. The patients are symptomatic, presenting with either progressive dysphagia with solids or acute food impaction. A thorough evaluation of the distal esophagus should be performed in patients with a suggestive clinical history.
Buckley
K
K
Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Buonomo
C
C
Husain
K
K
Nurko
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001466:Barium Sulfate