Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Histological changes in the oesophageal squamous mucosa: correlation with ambulatory 24 hour pH monitoring
  1. D J Bowrey1,
  2. G T Williams2,
  3. G W B Clark1
  1. 1Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF4 4XN, UK
  2. 2Department of Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine
  1. Correspondence to:
 Mr D J Bowrey, Department of Surgery, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Ynysmaerdy, Llantrisant, CF72 8XR, UK;
 bowrey{at}dialstart.net

Abstract

Aims: To determine the value of squamous mucosal histology in the assessment of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms.

Methods: Sixty six patients with reflux symptoms underwent endoscopy with oesophageal biopsy, manometry, and 24 hour oesophageal pH testing. The following histological features were assessed in squamous mucosa: the degree of basal cell hyperplasia, the degree of papillary zone elongation, and the density of neutrophil and eosinophil infiltration. Comparisons were made between the histological findings and the oesophageal function tests.

Results: The correlation between the traditionally accepted histological markers of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in squamous mucosa and 24 hour pH testing was predominantly negative, with the exception of neutrophil inflammation in the squamous mucosa of patients with complicated reflux disease.

Conclusions: This study was unable to confirm the value of the Ismail-Beigi criteria as histological markers of acid reflux. By inference, biopsy of the oesophageal squamous mucosa is of limited value in the assessment of patients with reflux symptoms.

  • ambulatory pH monitoring
  • gastro-oesphageal reflux disease
  • histology
  • oesophagitis

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes