ESOPHAGOGASTRIC MUCOSAL JUNCTION (EGMJ) - ITS LOCATION AS MEASURED BYENDOSCOPY

The ''esophageal'' length, i.e., incisors-esophagogastric mucosal junc tion distance, was measured endoscopically in 758 patients, retrospect ively. Two hundred twenty-five additional patients were evaluated pros pectively and their height and weight were measured. All patients were analyzed according to their age and sex, indication for the procedure , and its endoscopic diagnosis. ''Esophageal'' length was found to be significantly longer in male patients. Fifty-three percent of the exam ined population had ''esophageal'' length shorter than 38 cm, whereas 99% of patients with normal endoscopy had ''esophageal'' length of 38- 40 cm. Linear correlation was found between ''esophageal'' length and height, but not with weight. Patients with dyspepsia and esophagitis h ad a ''shorter'' esophagus, whereas those with tumors of the upper gas trointestinal tract and those with duodenal ulcer had a ''longer'' eso phagus.