Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease
	Diagnosis in short
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]

Notes:

Intraepithelial cells with irregular nuclear contours, "squiggle cells" (T lymphocytes^[6]), may mimic neutrophils.
Changes may be focal.
PPI effect may be seen in a concurrent gastric biopsy.
Perinuclear clearing may be seen.^[7]

DDx:

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

Images:

EE versus GERD (archivesofpathology.org).^[8]

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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.
↑ 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.

[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.

[pmid7587806-6] 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.

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

[pmid20524860-8] 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.

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