Endoscopic findings of esophagogastric junction in children

Abstract

Esophagogastric landmarks are recognizable in the same way both in children and in adults, and palisade-shaped vessels can be observed at the distal position of esophageal mucosa, even in infants. Few studies have been done in respect to Barrett's esophagus (BE) in children. Incidence of endoscopically suspected BE among all children undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is approximately 0.25–1.4%, but can be up to 9.7% in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Some data suggest that BE is an acquired disorder and point to the possibility of a congenital component in combination with severe mucosal injury. Recent reports noted that multilayered epithelium (ME), which shows morphological and immunocytochemical characteristics of both squamous and columnar epithelium, is associated with goblet cell metaplasia in adult patients with columnar-lined esophagus. The role of ME in the development of intestinal metaplasia in children is uncertain. Furthermore, detailed mechanisms about how short-segment BE (SSBE) changes to long-segment BE (LSBE) are not yet well understood. Further studies are required to understand the pathological esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and BE in children based on reliable epidemiological data and analysis especially in children who have reflux symptoms. Better understanding of the pediatric EGJ and BE may allow improved diagnosis, monitoring, therapy and, therefore, prognosis of GERD-related disorders in adulthood.