Abstract
Gastric inlet patches (GIPs) are composed of islands of heterotopic gastric columnar epithelium in the cervical esophagus. They are often found accidentally at upper endoscopy with a reported prevalence of approximately 1% to 5%. 1 Akbayir N. Alkim C. Erdem L. et al. Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the cervical esophagus (inlet patch): endoscopic prevalence, histological and clinical characteristics. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2004; 19: 891-896 Crossref PubMed Scopus (69) Google Scholar , 2 Tang P. McKinley M.J. Sporrer M. et al. Inlet patch: prevalence, histologic type, and association with esophagitis, Barrett esophagus, and antritis. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2004; 128: 444-447 PubMed Google Scholar However, symptoms such as globus sensations and other laryngeal and pharyngeal disorders have also been linked to their presence. 3 Von Rahden B.H. Stein H.J. et al. Heterotopic gastric mucosa of the esophagus: literature review and proposal of a clinicopathologic classification. Am J Gastroenterol. 2004; 99: 543-551 Crossref PubMed Scopus (136) Google Scholar This can be confirmed by our previously reported findings that ablation of the heterotopic gastric mucosa by means of argon plasma coagulation leads to resolution of such symptoms in the majority of all treated patients, 4 Meining A. Bajbouj M. Preeg M. et al. Argon plasma ablation of gastric inlet patches in the cervical esophagus may alleviate globus sensation: a pilot trial. Endoscopy. 2006; 38: 566-570 Crossref PubMed Scopus (47) Google Scholar in contrast to those treated by a sham procedure. 5 Bajbouj M. Becker V. Eckel F. et al. Argon plasma coagulation of cervical heterotopic gastric mucosa as an alternative treatment for globus sensations. Gastroenterology. 2009; 137: 440-444 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (62) Google Scholar To date at our institution, there have been 41 patients treated. Among these, 37 (90.2%) were clinically followed. The overall success rate was 81% after a median follow-up of 21 months (range 3-54 months). Hence, ablation of the heterotopic mucosa appears to be beneficial for the majority of those patients.
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