Radiological spectrum of late sequelae of corrosive injury to upper gastrointestinal tract. A pictorial review.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the radiological spectrum of sequelae of corrosive acid and alkali injury to the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract using barium contrast examination.


METHODS
Barium contrast radiographic films of 155 patients with a history of corrosive ingestion, acid in 120 and alkali in 35 patients with grade 2b and 3 injury on initial endoscopy, were retrospectively evaluated. Barium contrast examination of the upper GI tract was performed in the course of follow-up, beyond 3 weeks of corrosive ingestion.


RESULTS
The esophagus was involved in 131 patients and the stomach in 74. Fifty patients had simultaneous involvement of esophagus and stomach. Radiological findings in the esophagus were solitary or multiple strictures of varying length, intramural pseudodiverticula, and carcinoma in long-standing corrosive injury. The stomach showed cicatrization, predominantly involving the antrum, linitis plastica type deformity with multiple pseudodiverticula. There was no difference in the radiological findings as to the type of corrosive ingested.


CONCLUSIONS
Barium examination of the upper GI tract is useful in the evaluation of late sequelae of corrosive injury (acid/alkali). There was no difference in the radiological findings as to the type of corrosive ingested. Thus, contrary to general belief, we found that acid and alkali damage both the esophagus and the stomach with equal degree of severity.
Nagi
B
B
Sections of Radio-diagnosis, Clinical Gastroenterology and Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. nagi@glide.net.in
Kochhar
R
R
Thapa
B R
BR
Singh
K
K
D000143:Acids / Q000009:adverse effects; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000468:Alkalies / Q000009:adverse effects; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002424:Caustics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*
D000143:Acids; D000468:Alkalies; D002424:Caustics