Inlet patch: heterotopic gastric mucosa--another contributor to supraesophageal symptoms?
OBJECTIVE
To determine prospectively the incidence of an inlet patch (IP) in children requiring esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and assess the prevalence of presenting symptoms between children with and without an IP.


METHODS
All patients undergoing EGD in a 2-year period were assessed for the presence of an IP with biopsy confirmation. IP, distal esophagus, and stomach biopsy specimens were blindly reviewed by a pathologist for the presence and degree of inflammation and intestinal metaplasia. Symptoms from children with and without an IP were compared.


RESULTS
From 407 EGDs done by a single endoscopist, 24 patients had confirmed IP (incidence of 5.9%). The presence and degree of inflammation were always relatively greater in the columnar mucosa of the IP than in the antral/body gastric mucosa in the same patient (P = .0027) Inflammation was similar in the squamous epithelium around the IP and in the distal esophagus (P=.46). Two patients had intestinal metaplasia of the IP. The patients with IPs had a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms than the control group (P = .03).


CONCLUSIONS
Children with IPs may have a higher frequency of respiratory symptoms. Periodic surveillance should be performed in children with intestinal metaplasia of an IP.
Macha
Suhasini
S
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201-2196, USA.
Reddy
Sushma
S
Rabah
Raja
R
Thomas
Ronald
R
Tolia
Vasundhara
V
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002828:Choristoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies