How can corrosive injuries occur in the gastrointestinal?
Corrosive injuries of the gastrointestinal tract may occur by accidental or suicidal intake of acid or alkalis. Unintentional intake is more common in children, and deadly intent is much more common in adults.
What segments of the gastrointestinal tract can corrosives damage?
Corrosives most commonly affect the upper gastrointestinal tract, which includes oropharynx, esophagus, and stomach. However, it can damage any segment of the digestive tract, as well as the respiratory system.
What are the tests of choice in patients with corrosive injuries of the esophagus in the acute and chronic phases?
Upper endoscopy is the test of choice for assessing severity in the acute phase of corrosive injuries to the esophagus. In the chronic phase of the disease, barium examinations provide the best information about the location, number, length, and tightness of the stricture, which will help with the long-term management.
How long does it take for caustic esophagitis to stricture formation?
Erosive esophagitis leads to stricture formation from three weeks to 4 months after the initial injury.
How are the radiological features of caustic esophagitis strictures?
Radiological features depend on the degree of injury and scar formation. Patients may have one or more segmental strictures, or they may also develop long esophageal strictures, and the esophagus may appear as a filiform structure.
Does corrosive chronic esophagitis predispose to the development of esophageal carcinoma?
Chronic corrosive esophagitis has an increased risk of developing esophageal carcinoma, which may occur 15 to 40 years after caustic ingestion.
There is a long segment smooth stricture involving most of the thoracic esophagus, more severe in the upper and middle third. There is no extraluminal leakage of contrast. Few air bubbles are present as lucent filling defects.
The contrast flowed to the stomach and pylorus into the duodenum.