title: Balloon dilatation for corrosive esophageal strictures in children: radiologic and clinical outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of the esophageal balloon dilatation (EBD) in children with a corrosive esophageal stricture.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects included 14 patients (M:F = 8:6, age range: 17-85 months) who underwent an EBD due to a corrosive esophageal stricture. The causative agents for the condition were glacial acetic acid (n = 9) and lye (n = 5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 52 EBD sessions were performed in 14 patients (range 1-8 sessions). During the mean 15-month follow-up period (range 1-79 months), 12 patients (86%) underwent additional EBD due to recurrent esophageal stricture. Dysphagia improved after each EBD session and oral feeding was possible between EBD sessions. Long-term success (defined as dysphagia relief for at least 12 months after the last EBD) was achieved in two patients (14%). Temporary success of EBD (defined as dysphagia relief for at least one month after the EBD session) was achieved in 17 out of 52 sessions (33%). A submucosal tear of the esophagus was observed in two (4%) sessions of EBD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only a limited number of children with corrosive esophageal strictures were considered cured by EBD. However, the outcome of repeated EBD was sufficient to allow the children to eat per os prior to surgical management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine and the Institute of Radiation Medicine, SNUMRC, Seoul 110-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Jae
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Woo Sun
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Wha-Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Su-Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: In-One
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Mo
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Yeon
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000506:poisoning; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002424:Caustics / Q000506:poisoning; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008191:Lye / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics; D008191:Lye; D019342:Acetic Acid