Toshio Kurita

Magnifying Observation of Ectopic Gastric Mucosa of the Cervical Esophagus

We attempted to investigate the fine mucosal patterns of inlet patches using a transparent‐tip‐hood‐fitted magnifying electronic endoscope (Olympus, GIF‐200Z). The prevalence of inlet patch was 10.1%, 26 out of 257 patients undergoing screening endoscopic examination using a GIF‐200Z. This rate was higher than that of previous reports in Japan, higher in the young group than in the aged group, and higher in males than in females. The mean inlet patch size, measured by the new method using a transparent hood, was 5.2 mm. Large inlet patches, above 8.1 mm, were found more frequently in males than in females. The number of inlet patches in one patient was one in 19 patients and two in seven. The inlet patches were oval and had a smooth margin in 23 (69.7%) cases, and irregular in 10 (30.3%). The oval patches with smooth margins were significantly larger than those with an irregular form. The fine mucosal pattern of inlet patches was mixed with B, BC and C type. Inlet patches with acid production were suggested to be fewer in number than expected, and patients with an inlet patch appear to have minimal, if any, complaints. A transparent‐tip‐hood‐fitted magnifying electronic endoscope was thought to facilitate accurate diagnosis of the inlet patch.