Short-segment Barrett's esophagus: findings on double-contrast esophagography in 20 patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the findings of short-segment Barrett's esophagus on double-contrast esophagography.


METHODS
A review of pathology and endoscopy data revealed 142 patients with short-segment Barrett's esophagus, which was defined as columnar epithelium in the distal esophagus extending 3 cm or less above the gastroesophageal junction at endoscopy with histopathologic confirmation of intestinal metaplasia. Twenty of these patients underwent double-contrast esophagography. These 20 patients comprised our study group. The original radiology reports and images were reviewed to determine the findings on double-contrast esophagography. Medical records were also reviewed to determine the clinical findings and treatment.


RESULTS
Double-contrast esophagrams revealed hiatal hernias in 18 patients (90%), gastroesophageal reflux in 16 (80%), reflux esophagitis in seven (35%), peptic scarring or strictures in 11 (55%), and a reticular mucosal pattern in none. A total of 14 patients (70%) had morphologic findings of reflux disease with esophagitis alone (three patients), peptic scarring or strictures alone (seven patients), or both (four patients), but the remaining six (30%) had hiatal hernias or gastroesophageal reflux as the only radiographic finding.


CONCLUSIONS
Double-contrast esophagography revealed morphologic findings of reflux disease with esophagitis, peptic scarring or strictures, or both in 70% of patients with short-segment Barrett's esophagus. Thus, the absence of esophagitis or peptic scarring or strictures on double-contrast esophagography does not exclude the possibility of short-segment Barrett's esophagus.
Yamamoto
A J
AJ
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Levine
M S
MS
Katzka
D A
DA
Furth
E E
EE
Rubesin
S E
SE
Laufer
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods