Columnar dysplasia of the esophagus

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Columnar dysplasia of the esophagus is a pre-malignant lesion the esophagus associated with Barrett's esophagus. It is considered the precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Columnar dysplasia of the esophagus
Diagnosis in short

High-grade columnar dysplasia of the esophagus. H&E stain.
Synonyms columnar dysplasia, esophageal dysplasia (nonspecific term)
Subtypes low-grade, high-grade
LM DDx intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus, esophageal adenocarcinoma, basal crypt dysplasia
Site esophagus - distal
Associated Dx Barrett's esophagus, esophageal adenocarcinoma, GERD
Clinical history GERD
Prevalence uncommon
Prognosis pre-malignant (benign)
Treatment low-grade: followup with biopsy; high-grade: resection (surgery, endoscopic mucosal resection)

It is also known as esophageal columnar dysplasia (abbreviated ECD),[1] dysplasia in the columnar-lined esophagus,[2] and columnar epithelial dysplasia.[3]

General

Classification

  1. Indefinite for dysplasia.
    • Diagnosis used in the context of uncertainty (like ASCUS and ASAP); the classic reason for its use is: the surface (epithelium) cannot be seen (which precludes assessment of maturation); may be used in the context of inflammation.
  2. Low grade dysplasia.
  3. High grade dysplasia.

Management

Low grade dysplasia & indefinite for dysplasia:

  • Follow-up.

High grade dysplasia:

Microscopic

Features to assess:[5]

  1. Lack of surface maturation - very common, occasionally absent.[6]
    • Lack of lighter staining at surface.
    • Nuclear crowding at surface.
    • Nuclei at the surface not smaller.
  2. Architecture - esp. at low power.
    • Glands not round.
      • Low-grade feature: gland budding.
      • High-grade features: cribriforming, cystic dilation, necrotic debris.
    • Gland density:
      • Increased & round - think low-grade dysplasia.
      • Increased & irregular - think high-grade dysplasia.
  3. Cytology, esp. at high magnification.
    • Nuclear abnormalities in: size, staining, shape.
    • Loss of "nuclear polarity" = high-grade feature
      • Loss of palisaded appearance, rounding-up of nuclei.
  4. Inflammation, erosions & ulceration.
    • Marked inflammation should prompt consideration of knocking down the diagnosis one step, i.e. low-grade becomes indefinite or high-grade becomes low-grade.

Negatives:

  1. No desmoplasia.
    • Stromal fibrotic reaction to the tumour.
      • Desmoplasia is rare in the superficial esophagus.[7]
  2. No single cells.
  3. No extensive back-to-back glands.

Notes:

  • Changes similar to those see in colorectal tubular adenomas; however, what would be low-grade dysplasia in the rectum is high-grade dysplasia in the esophagus.
  • Presence of goblet cells suggests it is not dysplasia.[8]
  • Desmoplasia present = invasive adenocarcinoma.[9]
  • Some literature suggests community pathologists should not make this call, i.e. it should be diagnosed by an expert.[10]

DDx:

Images

No dysplasia - only intestinal metaplasia:

Indefinite for columnar dysplasia

www:

Low-grade columnar dysplasia

  • LGD - low mag. (WC)

  • LGD - intermed. mag. (WC)

  • LGD - high mag. (WC)

  • LGD - very high mag. (WC)

www:

High-grade columnar dysplasia

  • HGD - low mag.

  • HGD - intermed. mag.

  • HGD - intermed. mag.

  • HGD - high mag.

www:

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ESOPHAGUS, DISTAL, BIOPSY:
- LOW-GRADE COLUMNAR EPITHELIAL DYSPLASIA, SEE COMMENT.
- COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM WITH GOBLET CELL METAPLASIA.
- REACTIVE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM.

COMMENT:
This was reviewed with Dr. X and they agree with the diagnosis.

Alternate

ESOPHAGUS, 30 CM, BIOPSY:
- LOW-GRADE COLUMNAR DYSPLASIA WITH INTESTINAL METAPLASIA AND MILD CHRONIC
  INFLAMMATION.
- NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Feng, W.; Zhou, Z.; Peters, JH.; Khoury, T.; Zhai, Q.; Wei, Q.; Truong, CD.; Song, SW. et al. (Aug 2011). "Expression of insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 in human esophageal adenocarcinoma and its precursor lesions.". Arch Pathol Lab Med 135 (8): 1024-31. doi:10.5858/2009-0617-OAR2. PMID 21809994.
  2. ↑ Levine, DS. (Sep 1997). "Management of dysplasia in the columnar-lined esophagus.". Gastroenterol Clin North Am 26 (3): 613-34. PMID 9309409.
  3. ↑ Hamilton, SR.; Smith, RR. (Mar 1987). "The relationship between columnar epithelial dysplasia and invasive adenocarcinoma arising in Barrett's esophagus.". Am J Clin Pathol 87 (3): 301-12. PMID 3825997.
  4. ↑ Sampliner RE (March 2009). "Endoscopic Therapy for Barrett's Esophagus". Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol.. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2009.03.011. PMID 19306943.
  5. ↑ Iacobuzio-Donahue, Christine A.; Montgomery, Elizabeth A. (2005). Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology: A Volume in the Foundations in Diagnostic Pathology Series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 46. ISBN 978-0443066573.
  6. ↑ Lomo, LC.; Blount, PL.; Sanchez, CA.; Li, X.; Galipeau, PC.; Cowan, DS.; Ayub, K.; Rabinovitch, PS. et al. (Apr 2006). "Crypt dysplasia with surface maturation: a clinical, pathologic, and molecular study of a Barrett's esophagus cohort.". Am J Surg Pathol 30 (4): 423-35. PMID 16625087.
  7. ↑ Iacobuzio-Donahue, Christine A.; Montgomery, Elizabeth A. (2005). Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology: A Volume in the Foundations in Diagnostic Pathology Series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 49. ISBN 978-0443066573.
  8. ↑ GAG. January 2009.
  9. ↑ Iacobuzio-Donahue, Christine A.; Montgomery, Elizabeth A. (2005). Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology: A Volume in the Foundations in Diagnostic Pathology Series (1st ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 54. ISBN 978-0443066573.
  10. ↑ Alikhan, M.; Rex, D.; Khan, A.; Rahmani, E.; Cummings, O.; Ulbright, TM. (Jul 1999). "Variable pathologic interpretation of columnar lined esophagus by general pathologists in community practice.". Gastrointest Endosc 50 (1): 23-6. PMID 10385717.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Odze, RD. (Oct 2006). "Diagnosis and grading of dysplasia in Barrett's oesophagus.". J Clin Pathol 59 (10): 1029-38. doi:10.1136/jcp.2005.035337. PMID 17021130.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Odze, RD. (Aug 2009). "Barrett esophagus: histology and pathology for the clinician.". Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 6 (8): 478-90. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2009.103. PMID 19581906.
  13. ↑ Riddell, RH.; Odze, RD. (Oct 2009). "Definition of Barrett's esophagus: time for a rethink--is intestinal metaplasia dead?". Am J Gastroenterol 104 (10): 2588-94. doi:10.1038/ajg.2009.390. PMID 19623166.
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