Z line
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Morgan M, Murphy A, Haouimi A, Z line. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 25 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-78026
Permalink:
rID:
78026
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Matt A. Morgan had no recorded disclosures.
View Matt A. Morgan's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Matt A. Morgan had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Matt A. Morgan's current disclosures
Revisions:
5 times, by
3 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Synonyms:
- Squamocolumnar junction
- Z lines
- High Z line
- Irregular Z line
- Squamocolumnar junctions
The Z line in the oesophagus is the term for a faint zig-zag impression at the gastro-oesophageal junction that demarcates the transition between the stratified squamous epithelium in the oesophagus and the intestinal epithelium of the gastric cardia (the squamocolumnar junction).
The Z line is a normal finding but is not seen in every study. An irregular or elevated Z line indicates potential distal oesophageal metaplasia / Barrett oesophagus, although the actual risk of this finding is debated.
References
- 1. Levine MS. Radiology of esophagitis: a pattern approach. (1991) Radiology. 179 (1): 1-7. doi:10.1148/radiology.179.1.2006257 - Pubmed
- 2. Thota PN, Vennalaganti P, Vennelaganti S, et al. Low Risk of High-Grade Dysplasia or Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Among Patients With Barrett's Esophagus Less Than 1 cm (Irregular Z Line) Within 5 Years of Index Endoscopy. (2017) Gastroenterology. 152 (5): 987-992. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2016.12.005 - Pubmed
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