title: Endoscopically observed lower esophageal capillary patterns.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Do Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seong Nam
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Soo Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Soo Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Yun Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Won Seok
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Hyo Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.forename: Jong Jae
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwan Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Young Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Bak
authors.forename: Chang Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: 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