Medical expert of the article
New publications
Chronic fibrotic esophagitis.
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Chronic fibrous esophagitis should be considered as a late complication of chronic nonspecific esophagitis, resulting from the proliferation of connective tissue fibers leading to fibrous degeneration of the esophageal walls.
Read also: Chronic esophagitis
Chronic fibrous esophagitis may be limited or diffuse. Most often, this disease of the gastrointestinal tract manifests itself as a concentric narrowing of the lumen of the esophagus and very rarely as a longitudinal narrowing, which entails its shortening. Fibrosis in the area of the upper or lower stenosis of the esophagus may be both localized and diffuse.
[ Symptoms of chronic fibrous esophagitis
Fibrosis of the upper third of the esophagus usually occurs as a result of a descending infection, as mentioned above, and is more common in women. The fibrosclerotic process develops slowly. The first signs are difficulty swallowing solid food, since the muscular layer of the esophagus is affected, gradually losing its peristaltic function.
Fibrosis of the lower part of the esophagus, especially pronounced in its diaphragmatic-cardiac part, occurs as a result of ascending infection and the action of gastric juice, in particular pepsin, on the mucous membrane, as mentioned above. Fibrosis of this localization leads to pronounced stenosis of the esophagus and its secondary expansion over the stricture.
Diffuse fibrosis of the esophagus usually begins in its lower section and extends to the aortic stenosis. The cause of this stenosis is peptic esophagitis. In peptic fibrosis, radiological and esophagoscopic data are similar to those in esophageal cancer. Fibrogastroscopy reveals hyperemia of the mucous membrane, the latter has the appearance of mushroom-shaped eroded formations that bleed when touched. These formations can be differentiated from cancer only by histological examination. Many authors consider them to be precancer.
Treatment of chronic fibrous esophagitis
Treatment of chronic fibrous esophagitis is carried out by bougienage of the esophagus.
Treatment of such stenoses is long and ineffective and consists of extinguishing granulation tissue by methods of application of silver nitrate solutions, galvanocautery, laser therapy, the purpose of which is to transform the disease into a purely sclerotic form with subsequent dilatation or plastic-surgical treatment. It should be noted, however, that the listed methods, especially chemical coagulation, can provoke and accelerate malignant degeneration of existing pathomorphological changes in the esophageal wall.