This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (7)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Pediatric Otolaryngology  • Gastrointestinal Diseases  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Brandon C. Stroh, MD; Russell A. Faust, MD, PhD; Franklin L. Rimell, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998;124:545-549.

Background  Endoscopic examination (direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy) is the method of choice for diagnosis of respiratory symptoms of unknown cause in children. However, gastroesophageal reflux is being recognized increasingly often as a cause of pediatric respiratory symptoms and is difficult to diagnose on the basis of findings from direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. In cases in which gastroesophageal reflux was included in the differential diagnosis, we additionally performed esophagoscopy with esophageal mucosal biopsies.

Objectives  To determine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of routinely performing esophageal biopsies during triple endoscopy in children.

Methods  Twenty-four children ranging in age from 2 weeks to 10 years were referred for airway evaluation. Under general anesthesia, children underwent direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy with mucosal biopsy.

Results  Esophageal mucosa biopsy specimens were quickly and safely obtained during endoscopic evaluation. There were no complications. Reflux esophagitis was present in 54% of biopsy specimens, as suggested by basal cell hyperplasia, papillary elongation, and/or inflammatory cell infiltrates.

Conclusion  Gastroesophageal reflux is often difficult to diagnose in the pediatric population. When direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy is performed during examination of the child with airway symptoms, the addition of esophagoscopy with mucosal biopsies will safely and quickly provide data regarding the potential contribution of gastroesophageal reflux.

From the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Nonsurgical Management of Pediatric Vocal Fold Nodules
Wohl
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005;131:68-70.
FULL TEXT  

Extraesophageal Reflux in Pediatric Patients With Upper Respiratory Symptoms
Rosbe et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;129:1213-1220.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Childhood Voice Disorders: Ambulatory Evaluation and Operative Diagnosis
Faust
CLIN PEDIATR 2003;42:1-9.