Short-segment Barrett's esophagus: Findings on double-contrast esophagography in 20 patients

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to determine the findings of short -segment Barrett's esophagus on double-contrast esophagography. MATERIALS AND METHODS,A review of pathology and endoscopy data revealed 142 patients with short-segment Barrett's esophagus, which was defined as colu mnar epithelium in the distal esophagus extending 3 cm or less above the ga stroesophageal junction at endoscapy with histopathologic confirmation of i ntestinal metaplasia. Twenty of these patients underwent double-contrast es ophagography. These 20 patients comprised our study group. The original rad iology reports and images were reviewed to determine the findings on double -contrast esophagography. Medical records were also reviewed to determine t he clinical findings and treatment. RESULTS. Double-contrast esophagrams revealed hiatal hernias in 18 patients (90%), gastroesophageal reflux in 16 (80%), reflux esophagitis in seven (3 5%), peptic scarring or strictures in 11 (55%), and a reticular mucosal pat tern in none. A total of 14 patients (70%) had morphologic findings of refl ux disease with esophagitis alone (three patients), peptic scarring or stri ctures alone (seven patients), or both (four patients), but the remaining s ire (30%) had hiatal hernias or gastroesophageal reflux as the only radiogr aphic finding. CONCLUSION. Double-contrast esophagography revealed morphologic findings of ref-lux disease with esophagitis, peptic scarring or strictures, or bath i n 70% of patients with short-segment Barrett's esophagus. Thus, th; absence of esophagitis or peptic scarring or strictures on double-contrast esophag ography does not exclude the possibility of short-segment Barrett's esophag us.