title: Histopathology of the endoscopic esophagogastric junction in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Discrepancy exists between the endoscopic (rugal folds) and the histopathologic (oxyntic mucosa) definition of proximal stomach. We compared endoscopy and histopathology of the esophagogastric junction in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 102 consecutive patients (60 women) with gastroesophageal reflux disease prospectively underwent endoscopy including multilevel biopsy sampling at the level of the rise of rugal folds (level 0), and also 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm distal and 0.5 cm and > or = 1 cm proximal to this point. Columnar lined esophagus (CLE) was cataloged according to the histopathologic Paull-Chandrasoma classification and esophagitis according to the endoscopic Los Angeles classification. Hiatal hernia was diagnosed if the endoscopic rugal folds commenced > or = 2 cm above the diaphragm; competency of the esophagogastric valve was graded according to the Hill classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had histopathologic CLE with maximal presence at level 0 (97%) and a decrease towards proximal and distal biopsy levels (level -0.5 cm, 81%; level -1.0, 28%; level + 0.5 cm, 40%; level + 1.0 cm, 18%). Histopathologic CLE (distance between CLE-positive biopsy levels) was longer than endoscopic CLE (P < 0.001). All 19 patients with intestinal metaplasia (18.6%) were identified from 4-quadrant biopsies obtained at the squamocolumnar junction and at 0.5 cm distal from it. Persons with intestinal metaplasia were significantly older, had increased frequency of endoscopic hiatal hernia, higher Hill grade and presence of endoscopic CLE (P < 0.05); no significant difference was observed regarding sex, endoscopic esophagitis or length of endoscopic and histopathologic CLE (P > 0.05). None of the patients had dysplasia or carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease the esophagogastric junction cannot be identified by endoscopy but requires histopathology of multilevel biopsies. The squamocolumnar junction harbors the highest yield of intestinal metaplasia.
authors: University Clinic of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Ringhofer
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Lenglinger
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Izay
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: Kolarik
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Zacherl
authors: Margit
authors: M
authors: Eisler
authors: Fritz
authors: F
authors: Wrba
authors: Parakrama T
authors: PT
authors: Chandrasoma
authors: Enrico P
authors: EP
authors: Cosentini
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Prager
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Riegler
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors