Review

Authors: Edward E Morrisey, Anil K Rustgi

Lung and esophageal development and organogenesis involve a complex interplay of signaling pathways and transcriptional factors. Once the lung and esophagus do separate, their epithelial proliferation and differentiation programs share certain common properties that may fuel adaptive responses to injury and subsequent regeneration. Lung and esophageal tissue organogenesis and regeneration provide perspectives on squamous cell cancers and adenocarcinomas in each tissue.

Topics: Carcinogenesis; Cell Differentiation; Esophagus; Gene Regulatory Networks; Humans; Lung; Regeneration

PubMed: 29871822
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.04.007

Review

Authors: D A Edwards

Topics: Animals; Esophagus; Gastrins; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Hernia, Diaphragmatic; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Manometry; Peptides; Radiography

PubMed: 4943616
DOI: 10.1136/gut.12.11.948

Authors: Filipa Costa, Rui Casaca, Cecilia Monteiro...

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. Oesophageal GISTs are extremely uncommon, accounting for 0.7% of all GISTs, and their management is surrounded by some debate. We report a case of a 70-year-old man who was incidentally diagnosed with an oesophageal lesion on a 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. An endoscopic study revealed a non-obstructing 40 mm oesophageal lesion. Endoscopic ultrasound showed a well-circumscribed submucosal tumour on the middle oesophagus. Fine-needle aspiration was positive for CD117 and the overall features were of a GIST. After an initial thoracoscopic approach, the tumour was completely enucleated through a thoracotomy incision. The patient experienced no surgical complications and was discharged on day 4. Histopathology and immunohistochemical staining confirmed a low-risk GIST.

Topics: Aged; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration; Endosonography; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagectomy; Esophagus; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors; Humans; Male; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography

PubMed: 33130586
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-238058

Authors: Carl Frederik Haugaard, Frans Rømeling

Topics: Esophagus; Foreign Bodies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PubMed: 30037381
DOI: No ID Found

Authors: Yash Choksi

Topics: Autophagy; Humans; Animals; Esophagus; Epithelial Cells; Mice; Esophageal Mucosa; Cell Proliferation

PubMed: 38583484
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.03.008

Review

Authors: Sanne L Rosekrans, Bart Baan, Vanesa Muncan...

The esophagus is a relatively simple organ that evolved to transport food and liquids through the thoracic cavity. It is the only part of the gastrointestinal tract that lacks any metabolic, digestive, or absorptive function. The mucosa of the adult esophagus is covered by a multilayered squamous epithelium with a remarkable similarity to the epithelium of the skin despite the fact that these tissues originate from two different germ layers. Here we review the developmental pathways involved in the establishment of the esophagus and the way these pathways regulate gut-airway separation. We summarize current knowledge of the mechanisms that maintain homeostasis in esophageal epithelial renewal in the adult and the molecular mechanism of the development of Barrett's metaplasia, the precursor lesion to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Finally, we examine the ongoing debate on the hierarchy of esophageal epithelial precursor cells and on the presence or absence of a specific esophageal stem cell population. Together the recent insights into esophageal development and homeostasis suggest that the pathways that establish the esophagus during development also play a role in the maintenance of the adult epithelium. We are beginning to understand how reflux of gastric content and the resulting chronic inflammation can transform the squamous esophageal epithelium to columnar intestinal type metaplasia in Barrett's esophagus.

Topics: Animals; Cell Differentiation; Embryonic Stem Cells; Epithelium; Esophageal Diseases; Esophagus; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Homeostasis; Humans

PubMed: 26138464
DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00088.2015

Review

Authors: Xuchen Zhang, Deepa Patil, Robert D Odze...

The esophagus, a straight tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach, has the complex architecture common to the rest of the gastrointestinal tract with special differences that relate to its function as a conduit of ingested substances. For instance, it has submucosal glands that are unique and have a specific protective function. It has a squamous lining that exists nowhere else in the gut except the anus and it has a different submucosal nerve plexus when compared to the stomach and intestines. All of the layers of the esophageal wall and the specialized structures including blood and lymphatic vessels and nerves have specific responses to injury. The esophagus also has unique features such as patches of gastric mucosa called inlet patches at the very proximal part and it has a special sphincter mechanism at the most distal aspect. This review covers the normal microscopic anatomy of the esophagus and the patterns of reaction to stress and injury of each layer and each special structure.

Topics: Esophageal Mucosa; Esophagogastric Junction; Humans

PubMed: 29761508
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13705

Authors: R C Heading

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adolescent; Adult; Barrett Esophagus; Child; Esophageal Diseases; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagus; Humans

PubMed: 3103726
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.294.6570.461

Review

Authors: Ian J Jacobs, Wei-Yao Ku, Jianwen Que...

Separation of the single anterior foregut tube into the esophagus and trachea involves cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as dynamic changes in cell-cell adhesion and migration. These biological processes are regulated and coordinated at multiple levels through the interplay of the epithelium and mesenchyme. Genetic studies and in vitro modeling have shed light on relevant regulatory networks that include a number of transcription factors and signaling pathways. These signaling molecules exhibit unique expression patterns and play specific functions in their respective territories before the separation process occurs. Disruption of regulatory networks inevitably leads to defective separation and malformation of the trachea and esophagus and results in the formation of a relatively common birth defect, esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF). Significantly, some of the signaling pathways and transcription factors involved in anterior foregut separation continue to play important roles in the morphogenesis of the individual organs. In this review, we will focus on new findings related to these different developmental processes and discuss them in the context of developmental disorders or birth defects commonly seen in clinics.

Topics: Animals; Body Patterning; Esophagus; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Humans; Signal Transduction; Trachea; Transcription Factors

PubMed: 22750256
DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.06.016

Authors: Sourav Halder, Shashank Acharya, Wenjun Kou...

Fluoroscopy is a radiographic procedure for evaluating esophageal disorders such as achalasia, dysphasia and gastroesophageal reflux disease. It performs dynamic imaging of the swallowing process and provides anatomical detail and a qualitative idea of how well swallowed fluid is transported through the esophagus. In this work, we present a method called mechanics informed fluoroscopy (FluoroMech) that derives patient-specific quantitative information about esophageal function. FluoroMech uses a convolutional neural network to perform segmentation of image sequences generated from the fluoroscopy, and the segmented images become input to a one-dimensional model that predicts the flow rate and pressure distribution in fluid transported through the esophagus. We have extended this model to identify and estimate potential physiomarkers such as esophageal wall stiffness and active relaxation ahead of the peristaltic wave in the esophageal musculature. FluoroMech requires minimal computational time and hence can potentially be applied clinically in the diagnosis of esophageal disorders.

Topics: Biological Transport; Biomechanical Phenomena; Esophagus; Fluoroscopy; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Neural Networks, Computer; Pressure

PubMed: 33651206
DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01420-0