Foreign Body as Initial Symptom of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Abstract

Objective: 1) Determine characteristics common in the presentation of esophageal foreign body that indicate presence of underlying esophageal pathology. 2) Provide clinical guidelines to consider esophageal mucosal biopsy during foreign body removal.

Method: Three hundred twelve cases of pediatric patients with an esophageal foreign body requiring esophagoscopy for removal were reviewed. Patients were excluded if a history of esophageal surgery or pathology was present. Factors common to those patients subsequently diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) were identified.

Results: Eligibility criteria were met in 271 cases. Of these, 27 underwent esophageal biopsy and 18 were diagnosed with EE. The following factors were compared between the EE population and the group as a whole: food impaction (89% of EE patients, 11% of non-EE patients), older age (average EE age 11.9, overall average age 4.5), atopic disease (61.1% of EE, 17.0% non-EE), abnormalities on esophagoscopy (94.4% of EE, 8.9% overall), and previous esophageal foreign body or frequent dysphagia (83.3% of EE, 5.9% non-EE). Eighteen percent of EE patients had 2 or more impactions requiring esophagoscopy prior to a biopsy being taken.

Conclusion: Older age, food impaction, history of atopic disease or previous esophageal foreign body, and abnormalities on esophagoscopy are all associated with EE. Patients meeting these criteria should be strongly considered for mucosal biopsy during foreign body removal. Failure to do so may lead to repeated foreign body events.