title: Specific locations of linear furrows in patients with esophageal eosinophilia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Linear furrows are the most frequently found endoscopic abnormality in patients with esophageal eosinophilia (EE); however, the precise endoscopic features remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we aimed to clarify the endoscopic features of EE, essential for the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), by focusing on the specific locations of linear furrows in a Japanese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 70 cases with EE (≥15 eosinophils/high-power field) who were diagnosed at our hospital and related facilities. Information regarding endoscopic findings and clinical parameters was retrospectively reviewed. Next, the position of linear furrows in relation to esophageal longitudinal folds (ridge or valley) was evaluated in each case and compared with the position of mucosal breaks in patients with reflux esophagitis. Finally, the relationship between linear furrows and eosinophilic infiltration was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 70 EE patients, 63 (90%) had linear furrows. Those occurred in a radial pattern and were widespread throughout the lower to upper esophagus, and exclusively found in esophageal longitudinal mucosal fold valleys, not on ridges, which was different from the position of mucosal breaks in patients with reflux esophagitis. Increased eosinophilic infiltration was significantly more frequent in linear furrows in the valleys (93%) as compared to mucosa on adjacent ridges (60%) (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Investigation of these endoscopic characteristics, especially by focusing on linear furrows in esophageal mucosal fold valleys, may provide important clues for more accurate diagnosis of EoE.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Eiko
authors: E
authors: Okimoto
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Norihisa
authors: N
authors: Ishimura
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Mayumi
authors: M
authors: Okada
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Izumi
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Hironobu
authors: H
authors: Mikami
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Masahito
authors: M
authors: Aimi
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Matsue City Hospital, Matsue, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Tanimura
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Mishiro
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Naoki
authors: N
authors: Oshima
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Noriyoshi
authors: N
authors: Ishikawa
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Shunji
authors: S
authors: Ishihara
authors: Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Matsue, Japan.
authors: Kyoichi
authors: K
authors: Adachi
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Riruke
authors: R
authors: Maruyama
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Matsue City Hospital, Matsue, Japan.
authors: Yoshikazu
authors: Y
authors: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; 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; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: biopsy; endoscopy; eosinophilia; eosinophilic esophagitis; reflux esophagitis