Visceral Heterotopy, Embodiment and Consanguine: The Gastric Saga

Abstract

Heterotopic or ectopic mucosa is ongenital anomaly elucidated as the inhabitance of tissue outside its habitual locale. This tissue is discerned coincidentally and may be asymptomatic or with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. Two categories of heterotopic tissue predominantly crop up in the gastrointestinal tract, PANCREATIC and GASTRIC. Isolated heterotopic gastric mucosa (HGM) can arise at all position’s, anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract, from the oesophagus to the rectum. The incidence is sporadic but should be deliberated upon in the differential diagnosis of unexplained pain of the abdomen, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract or weight loss. Once heterotopia is identified, suitable treatment can be instituted thereby diminishing the danger of complications. Heterotopic or Ectopic tissue is a congenital anomaly, attributed to abnormal embryologic development, of the existence of tissue apart from the typical location, with no neural, vascular, anatomic relation with the main body of an organ in which it customarily exists. Heterotopic gastric mucosa (HGM) was initially detailed by Ewell and Jackson in 1939. The congenital anomaly can be emulated by acquired transition (e.g. pyloric epithelial lining) in some organs e.g. lower oesophagus, duodenal bulb and gall bladder. HGM can appear at any location in the gastrointestinal tract, however, it is exceptional in the lower alimentary canal.