Endoscopically observed lower esophageal capillary patterns.
BACKGROUND
It has been reported that there are four zones of distinct venous patterns around the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ); i.e. truncal, perforating, palisade (PZ) and gastric zones. Using the distal end of PZ as a marker for GEJ, this study was done to assess the length and patterns of PZ in Koreans, and to assess the prevalence of endoscopic Barrett's esophagus (E-BE) and hiatal hernia (E-HH).


METHODS
847 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic endoscopy were included. During endoscopy, PZ, squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) and pinchcock action (PCA) were identified. Patterns were classified according to the relationships of the distal end of PZ with SCJ and PCA; A: all three at the same level, B: SCJ proximal to the other two which are at the same level, C: PCA distal to the other two which are at the same level, D: SCJ proximal to the distal end of PZ which is proximal to PCA. Cases with patterns B and D were thought to have E-BE, and those with patterns C and D to have E-HH.


RESULTS
Patterns A, B, C and D were 79.2%, 12.1%, 3.8% and 4.9%, respectively. Length of PZ was 3.0 +/- 0.1 cm. E-BE and E-HH were found in 17.0% and 8.7%, respectively. Both E-BE and E-HH were more frequently found in males and in cases with reflux esophagitis.


CONCLUSIONS
E-BE and E-HH are not so infrequent in Koreans as previously thought, if we use the distal end of PZ as an endoscopic marker of GEJ.
Choi
Do Won
DW
Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Oh
Seong Nam
SN
Baek
Soo Jung
SJ
Ahn
Soo Hyun
SH
Chang
Yun Jung
YJ
Jeong
Won Seok
WS
Kim
Hyo Jung
HJ
Yeon
Jong Eun
JE
Park
Jong Jae
JJ
Kim
Jae Seon
JS
Byun
Kwan Soo
KS
Bak
Young Tae
YT
Lee
Chang Hong
CH
D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000453:epidemiology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012039:Regional Blood Flow