Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease
	Diagnosis in short
	; Micrograph showing histology compatible with gastroesophageal reflux disease. H&E stain.
LM	basal cell hyperplasia (> 3 cells thick or >15% of epithelial thickness), papillae elongated (papillae reach into the top 1/3 of the epithelial layer), inflammation, esp. eosinophils, lymphocytes with convoluted nuclei ("squiggle cells"), +/-intraepithelial edema, +/-apoptotic cells, +/-glycogenation
LM DDx	intestinal metaplasia (Barrett's esophagus), eosinophilic esophagitis, acute esophagitis
Site	esophagus
Associated Dx	obesity, Barrett's esophagus
Prevalence	common
Endoscopy	erythema, erosions, +/-ulceration.
Prognosis	benign
Clin. DDx	eosinophilic esophagitis, acute esophagitis
Treatment	proton pump inhibitors

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, abbreviated GERD, is a common pathology of the esophagus. It is occasionally abbreviated GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease).

Reflux esophagitis redirects here. It technically isn't a synonym.^[1]^[2]

General

Clinical:

Usually chest pain
+/-Abdominal pain.
+/-Vomiting.
+/-Blood loss.

Treatment:

Treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

DDx (clinical):

Eosinophilic esophagitis.

Gross

Erythema.
Erosions.
+/-Ulceration.

Note:

Many be graded using Savary-Miller classification.

Images:

Savary-Miller classification - endoscopic images (gastrohep.com).

Microscopic

Features:

Basal cell hyperplasia;^[3] > 3 cells thick or >15% of epithelial thickness.
Papillae elongated; papillae reach into the top 1/3 of the epithelial layer.^[4]
Inflammation, esp. eosinophils, lymphocytes with convoluted nuclei ("squiggle cells").
+/-Intraepithelial edema.
+/-Apoptotic cells.^[5]
+/-Glycogen - cytoplasm cleared (white).^[6]

Notes:

Intraepithelial cells with irregular nuclear contours, "squiggle cells" (T lymphocytes^[7]), may mimic neutrophils.
Changes may be focal.
PPI effect may be seen in a concurrent gastric biopsy.
Perinuclear clearing may be seen.^[8]

DDx:

Eosinophilic esophagitis - characterized by similar histomorphologic features. The key difference is: more eosinophils.
Barrett's esophagus - intestinal metaplasia may be minimal.

Images

GERD - low mag.
GERD - intermed. mag.
GERD - high mag.
GERD - intermed. mag.
GERD - high mag.
GERD - high mag.

www:

EE versus GERD (archivesofpathology.org).^[9]

Stains

Oil red O stain +ve in macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage specimens.^[10]

Sign out

Poorly oriented

ESOPHAGUS, BIOPSY:
- SQUAMOUS MUCOSA WITH BASAL CELL HYPERPLASIA, INTRAEPITHELIAL EDEMA AND RARE INTRAEPITHELIAL 
EOSINOPHILS -- COMPATIBLE WITH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX.

Columnar epithelium present

ESOPHAGUS, BIOPSY:
- SQUAMOUS MUCOSA WITH BASAL CELL HYPERPLASIA, INTRAEPITHELIAL EDEMA AND RARE INTRAEPITHELIAL 
EOSINOPHILS -- COMPATIBLE WITH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX.
- COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM WITH MODERATE CHRONIC INACTIVE INFLAMMATION.
- NEGATIVE FOR INTESTINAL METAPLASIA.
- NEGATIVE FOR DYSPLASIA AND NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.

Ulceration present

ESOPHAGUS, DISTAL, BIOPSY:
- SQUAMOUS MUCOSA WITH BASAL CELL HYPERPLASIA, INTRAEPITHELIAL EDEMA, RARE
  INTRAEPITHELIAL EOSINOPHILS AND EVIDENCE OF ULCERATION -- COMPATIBLE WITH
  GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX.
- COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM WITH MODERATE CHRONIC INACTIVE INFLAMMATION.
- NEGATIVE FOR INTESTINAL METAPLASIA.
- NEGATIVE FOR DYSPLASIA AND NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.

COMMENT:
PAS-D staining is negative for microorganisms.

BE and GERD present

ESOPHAGUS (DISTAL), BIOPSY:
- COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM WITH INTESTINAL METAPLASIA AND MODERATE CHRONIC INFLAMMATION,
  SEE COMMENT.
- SQUAMOUS MUCOSA WITH BASAL CELL HYPERPLASIA, INTRAEPITHELIAL EDEMA AND RARE
  INTRAEPITHELIAL EOSINOPHILS -- COMPATIBLE WITH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX.
- NEGATIVE FOR DYSPLASIA AND NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.

COMMENT:
The findings are consistent with Barrett's esophagus in the appropriate endoscopic setting.

References

↑ Orbelo, DM.; Enders, FT.; Romero, Y.; Francis, DL.; Achem, SR.; Dabade, TS.; Crowell, MD.; Geno, DM. et al. (Jan 2014). "Once-Daily Omeprazole/Sodium Bicarbonate Heals Severe Refractory Reflux Esophagitis with Morning or Nighttime Dosing.". Dig Dis Sci. doi:10.1007/s10620-013-3017-y. PMID 24448652.
↑ Karbasi, A.; Ardestani, ME.; Ghanei, M.; Harandi, AA. (Jun 2013). "The association between reflux esophagitis and airway hyper-reactivity in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux.". J Res Med Sci 18 (6): 473-6. PMID 24250694.
↑ Steiner, SJ.; Kernek, KM.; Fitzgerald, JF. (May 2006). "Severity of basal cell hyperplasia differs in reflux versus eosinophilic esophagitis.". J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 42 (5): 506-9. doi:10.1097/01.mpg.0000221906.06899.1b. PMID 16707971.
↑ Cotran, Ramzi S.; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Nelso Fausto; Robbins, Stanley L.; Abbas, Abul K. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (7th ed.). St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Saunders. pp. 804. ISBN 0-7216-0187-1.
↑ Wetscher GJ, Schwelberger H, Unger A, et al. (December 1998). "Reflux-induced apoptosis of the esophageal mucosa is inhibited in Barrett's epithelium". Am. J. Surg. 176 (6): 569–73. PMID 9926792.
↑ Vadva MD, Triadafilopoulos G (July 1993). "Glycogenic acanthosis of the esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux". J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 17 (1): 79–83. PMID 8409304.
↑ Cucchiara, S.; D'Armiento, F.; Alfieri, E.; Insabato, L.; Minella, R.; De Magistris, TM.; Scoppa, A. (Nov 1995). "Intraepithelial cells with irregular nuclear contours as a marker of esophagitis in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease.". Dig Dis Sci 40 (11): 2305-11. PMID 7587806.
↑ URL: http://155.37.5.42/eAtlas/GI/1262.htm. Accessed on: 31 January 2014.
↑ Genevay, M.; Rubbia-Brandt, L.; Rougemont, AL. (Jun 2010). "Do eosinophil numbers differentiate eosinophilic esophagitis from gastroesophageal reflux disease?". Arch Pathol Lab Med 134 (6): 815-25. doi:10.1043/1543-2165-134.6.815. PMID 20524860.
↑ Hopkins, PM.; Kermeen, F.; Duhig, E.; Fletcher, L.; Gradwell, J.; Whitfield, L.; Godinez, C.; Musk, M. et al. (Aug 2010). "Oil red O stain of alveolar macrophages is an effective screening test for gastroesophageal reflux disease in lung transplant recipients.". J Heart Lung Transplant 29 (8): 859-64. doi:10.1016/j.healun.2010.03.015. PMID 20466562.

[1] Orbelo, DM.; Enders, FT.; Romero, Y.; Francis, DL.; Achem, SR.; Dabade, TS.; Crowell, MD.; Geno, DM. et al. (Jan 2014). "Once-Daily Omeprazole/Sodium Bicarbonate Heals Severe Refractory Reflux Esophagitis with Morning or Nighttime Dosing.". Dig Dis Sci. doi:10.1007/s10620-013-3017-y. PMID 24448652.

[2] Karbasi, A.; Ardestani, ME.; Ghanei, M.; Harandi, AA. (Jun 2013). "The association between reflux esophagitis and airway hyper-reactivity in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux.". J Res Med Sci 18 (6): 473-6. PMID 24250694.

[pmid16707971-3] Steiner, SJ.; Kernek, KM.; Fitzgerald, JF. (May 2006). "Severity of basal cell hyperplasia differs in reflux versus eosinophilic esophagitis.". J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 42 (5): 506-9. doi:10.1097/01.mpg.0000221906.06899.1b. PMID 16707971.

[Ref_PBoD804-4] Cotran, Ramzi S.; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Nelso Fausto; Robbins, Stanley L.; Abbas, Abul K. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (7th ed.). St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Saunders. pp. 804. ISBN 0-7216-0187-1.

[pmid9926792-5] Wetscher GJ, Schwelberger H, Unger A, et al. (December 1998). "Reflux-induced apoptosis of the esophageal mucosa is inhibited in Barrett's epithelium". Am. J. Surg. 176 (6): 569–73. PMID 9926792.

[pmid8409304-6] Vadva MD, Triadafilopoulos G (July 1993). "Glycogenic acanthosis of the esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux". J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 17 (1): 79–83. PMID 8409304.

[pmid7587806-7] Cucchiara, S.; D'Armiento, F.; Alfieri, E.; Insabato, L.; Minella, R.; De Magistris, TM.; Scoppa, A. (Nov 1995). "Intraepithelial cells with irregular nuclear contours as a marker of esophagitis in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease.". Dig Dis Sci 40 (11): 2305-11. PMID 7587806.

[8] URL: http://155.37.5.42/eAtlas/GI/1262.htm. Accessed on: 31 January 2014.

[pmid20524860-9] Genevay, M.; Rubbia-Brandt, L.; Rougemont, AL. (Jun 2010). "Do eosinophil numbers differentiate eosinophilic esophagitis from gastroesophageal reflux disease?". Arch Pathol Lab Med 134 (6): 815-25. doi:10.1043/1543-2165-134.6.815. PMID 20524860.

[pmid20466562-10] Hopkins, PM.; Kermeen, F.; Duhig, E.; Fletcher, L.; Gradwell, J.; Whitfield, L.; Godinez, C.; Musk, M. et al. (Aug 2010). "Oil red O stain of alveolar macrophages is an effective screening test for gastroesophageal reflux disease in lung transplant recipients.". J Heart Lung Transplant 29 (8): 859-64. doi:10.1016/j.healun.2010.03.015. PMID 20466562.

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