Video-endoscopy for evaluation of columnar lined esophagus in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

Summary BACKGROUND: Information on biopsy location (esophageal vs. stomach) is required for histopathologic diagnosis of reflux associated morphologic changes at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). We evaluated the impact of digital recording of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) on diagnosis of epithelial disorders of the EGJ. METHODS: 29 consecutive patients (male:female = 17:12) with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) prospectively underwent EGD. EGD including biopsy sampling from EGJ was digitally recorded and reviewed. Initial histopathology report based on the initial EGD-report was followed by a revised histopathology report based on a revised evaluation of endoscopy recording. RESULTS: In 17 patients (59%) revised evaluation was in agreement with initial diagnosis (normal junction: n = 4; abnormal junction with columnar lined esophagus [CLE]: n = 13). Histopathology showed carditis (n = 3) and cardia intestinal metaplasia (n = 1) in patients with normal junction; CLE (n = 8) and esophagus intestinal metaplasia (EIM) (n = 5) for abnormal junctions (CLE ≤ 0.5–7 cm). In 12 patients (41%) with CLE ≤ 0.5 cm revised evaluation differed from initial reports (abnormal junction: n = 12). Histopathology showed CLE (n = 9) and esophagus intestinal metaplasia (n = 3). Misinterpretation resulted from short duration of sequences with unimpaired vision of the EGJ (<0.001) and were unaffected by circumferential extent of CLE (p = 0.160). EIM was only present within cardiac, but not within oxyntocardiac mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: During EGD, CLE-segments ≤ 0.5 cm at the EGJ are biopsy sampled but incorrectly assigned (stomach vs. esophagus) and precursor lesions of Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma are missed. Our data indicate that review of digital EGD recording contributes towards improving accuracy and reproducibility of diagnosis of columnar lined esophagus.