title: Suitable biopsy site for detection of esophageal eosinophilia in eosinophilic esophagitis suspected cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Esophageal eosinophilia (EE) is the most important finding for the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis. We conducted the present retrospective study to clarify the most suitable site of the esophagus to examine for EE detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 4999 subjects who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy screening examinations as part of a detailed health check-up. When endoscopic esophageal abnormalities characteristic of eosinophilic esophagitis were observed, two or three biopsy specimens were obtained from the middle or lower esophagus, and endoscopic findings of fixed rings, exudates, furrows, edema, stricture, and crepe paper esophagus in biopsied sites were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five subjects underwent histological examination for EE, of whom 20 showed positive findings in biopsied specimens. Higher grade endoscopic findings of exudates, furrows, and edema were observed in cases with EE in comparison to the 15 without EE, whereas statistically significant higher grade endoscopic findings of exudates, furrows, and edema were also observed in biopsied sites with EE in comparison to those without EE. In addition, a positive finding of EE in biopsied specimens from the lower esophagus was significantly more frequently noted as compared to those from the middle esophagus. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a lower esophagus biopsy site and severe exudates were significant factors related to a positive EE finding in biopsied specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most suitable conditions for detection of EE are a lower esophagus biopsy site and the presence of exudates in cases suspicious of eosinophilic esophagitis shown by endoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Matsue, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.affiliation: Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Matsue, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mishiro
authors.affiliation: Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Matsue, Japan.
authors.forename: Shino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: biopsy; endoscopy; eosinophilia; eosinophilic esophagitis; histology