1979 Volume 21 Issue 2 Pages 247-251_1
Damage to the wall of the esophagus by foreign bodies or instrumental trauma may involve only the mucosa, leaving the muscle layer intact. And occasionally this damage may lead to an occurrence of esophageal submucosal dissection. X-ray examination has been the best way to find the presence of this condition hitherto, but recently a case of esophageal submucosal dissection communicating with the main esophageal lumen at both ends was found endoscopically. The patient was 59-year-old woman and was admitted to this hospital because of splenomegaly. She had a history of previous operation for esophageal varices. A mucosal bridge was noted by esophagoscopy and the lesion showed no remarkable signs of inflammation. It was difficult to decide whether this lesion was congenital or acquired one but from anamnesis and the form of this brigde this was thought to be acquired. This was 'the first case in Japan that was found endoscopically, and endoscopic examination will reveal itself a very useful method for observation of lesions making their ap-pearrace in the lumen, but it is noteworthy to say that endoscopic examination is always accompanied by the risk to damage the esophageal wall. Jiro Miyamoto Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Clinical Medical Science, University of Tsukuba, Japan
