title: Corrosive ingestion in adults.
abstract: Ingestion of a corrosive substance can produce severe injury to the gastrointestinal tract and can even result in death. The degree and extent of damage depends on several factors like the type of substance, the morphologic form of the agent, the quantity, and the intent. In the acute stage, perforation and necrosis may occur. Long-term complications include stricture formation in the esophagus, antral stenosis and the development of esophageal carcinoma. Endoscopy should be attempted and can be safely performed in most cases to assess the extent of damage. Procedure-related perforation is rare. Stricture formation is more common in patients with second and third degree burns. Corticosteroids may help prevent stricture formation. Esophageal carcinoma may develop beginning 30 to 40 years after the time of injury.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Services, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Kovil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.forename: Vivek V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Gumaste
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002424:Caustics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000293:injuries; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics