title: [Crohn disease of the esophagus].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the landmark report by Crohn, Ginzburg and Oppenheimer in 1932, the spectrum of involvement of Crohn's disease has expanded to include the entire digestive tract from mouth to anus. The involvement of the esophagus by Crohn's disease is very rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a 41-year-old male patient with severe Crohn's disease of the distal esophagus with a fistula to the right bronchial system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a long period of nutritional support we performed a transthoracic esophagectomy and a Nissen fundoplication. Postoperatively his course was complicated by pneumonia and withdrawal symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Esophagectomy is indicated in Crohn's disease of the esophagus with severe stricture or fistula formations.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Viszeral-, Thorax- und Gefässchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technischen Universität Dresden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Konopke
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wehrmann
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Saeger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D018662:Fundoplication; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery