title: Congenital anomalies of the esophagus.
abstract: Congenital malformations of the esophagus are frequently encountered by pediatric surgeons, especially esophageal atresia with or without tracheo-esophageal fistula. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of these various anomalies are not clear. Here we present a brief overview of the embryologic development of the tracheoesophageal tube, along with some of the genetic controls which, when defective can lead to abnormal separation of this tube.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El-Gohary
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Gittes
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tovar
mesh_terms: D004065:Digestive System Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D004947:Esophagus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography