Search Results (4)

Goals: To assess the characteristics and prognosis-influencing factors of phlegmonous esophagitis, a rare condition marked by suppurative inflammation of the esophageal submucosa and muscular layers. Background: Effective management strategies for phlegmonous esophagitis are lacking. This study aims to systematically review cases to better understand the disease’s features and prognostic determinants. Method: A systematic search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar from inception to 20 April 2023. Phlegmonous esophagitis case reports and studies with patient information were included; clinical manifestations, laboratory results, imaging findings, other diagnostic findings, and outcomes were analyzed. A pooled analysis was performed to investigate mortality-related risk factors. Results: A total of 35 cases of phlegmonous esophagitis were selected from 31 case reports and 2 case series (median age, 57.0 years; male, 54.3%). The patients presented various clinical symptoms, with neck-to-epigastric pain and dysphagia being the most common. Comorbid diabetes mellitus was a major predisposing factor; one-third of the patients had no previous medical history. Computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic examinations were predominantly used for phlegmonous esophagitis diagnosis. Radiological findings showed that the upper and middle esophagus were most frequently involved. Treatments included administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics and drainage via endoscopy or surgery. There were three cases of mortality, and non-survivors tended to have shorter hospital stays, indicating rapid disease progression. In logistic regression, thoracic surgery was a significant mortality-related risk factor (odds ratio, 19.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.33–282.00, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Advancements in CT and endoscopy have led to less-invasive diagnostic and treatment methods for phlegmonous esophagitis. Endoscopic localized abscess treatment is associated with positive outcomes. Full article

Acute phlegmonous esophagitis is a rare life-threatening disease that often requires surgical intervention in case of complications, including esophageal abscess, perforation, or mediastinitis. We present a case of acute phlegmonous esophagitis, in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved useful in planning the treatment strategy. An 89-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with painful swallowing and respiratory distress. She was diagnosed with acute phlegmonous esophagitis and a hypopharyngeal abscess based on computed tomography (CT) findings. However, there was a discrepancy between the clinical course and CT findings. Given the improvement of the patient’s condition with conservative treatment with ampicillin/sulbactam, the CT findings suggested an apparent abscess due to increased esophageal wall thickness. However, MR diffusion-weighted images showed a slightly high-intensity signal, suggesting that the enlargement was due to edema rather than an abscess. The patient recovered successfully following conservative treatment. Thus, our findings demonstrate the utility of MRI in the treatment planning of acute phlegmonous esophagitis, especially in cases with unreliable contrast-enhanced CT findings. However, future studies are warranted to explore the utility of MRI in the management of such cases. Full article

Acute esophageal necrosis is a rare condition, characterized by a distinctive endoscopic/necropsic image–circumferential black area of the esophagus. This paper presents a case of a 78-year-old patient with recent history of a severe form of COVID-19 (2 months previously), with multiple comorbidities, which presents sudden death in hospital. Anatomic-pathological autopsy showed extensive esophageal necrosis, pulmonary thromboses, and coronarian and aortic atherosclerosis. The histopathological examination revealed necrosis of the esophageal mucosa and phlegmonous inflammation extended to the mediastinum, chronic pneumonia with pulmonary fibrosis, viral myocarditis, papillary muscle necrosis, and pericoronary neuritis. Thromboses and necroses were identified also in the liver, pancreas, and adrenal glands. Post-COVID-19 thromboses can manifest late, affecting various vascular territories, including esophageal ones. Their clinical picture may be diminished or absent in elderly and/or diabetic patients. Full article

Acute phlegmonous esophagitis is a very rare, life-threatening form of esophagitis, characterized by diffuse bacterial infection and pus formation within the submucosal and muscularis layers of the esophagus. We describe a case in which contrast-enhanced chest CT was useful for evaluating the severity of phlegmonous esophagitis, which was overlooked and underestimated by endoscopy. Full article