BACKGROUND: @entity5202 in adults is regarded as unusual, being diagnosed mostly in young @entity1 presenting with @entity1282 . Mucosal furrows are a sentinel endoscopic feature. This study examined the demographic and clinical profile of adults with @entity5202 seen from 1981 to 2002. METHODS: All @entity1 from an Australian provincial city (population 198,000) with otherwise unexplained eosinophilic inflammation of the squamous epithelium (>/=30 eosinophils per high-power field) were included in a retrospective review. RESULTS: A diagnosis of @entity5202 was made in 31 @entity1 (24 @entity1 , 7 @entity1 ; mean age 34 years, range 14-77 years). The diagnosis was made in 19 (61%) of the 31 @entity1 during the most recent 2 years (none between 1981 and 1994 vs. 12 between 1995-2000 vs. 19 between 2000-2001). Esophageal mucosal furrows were present in 30 (97%), a finding infrequently recognized before 2001. @entity1282 was documented in 26 (89%). Symptoms had been present for long periods before diagnosis (mean 54 months; range 0-180 months), and diagnosis was delayed in 7 (mean 81 months, range 20-144 months) because sentinel features were overlooked at endoscopy. Strictures, often evident only as a result of mucosal shearing during dilation, were present in 17 (57%). Esophageal dilation preformed in 17 (mean 3.4 dilations per @entity1 , range 1-13) consistently relieved symptoms; tears were recorded in 13 (87%), but no serious complication resulted. CONCLUSIONS: @entity5202 in adults of all ages is more common than recognized. Mucosal furrows are easily overlooked at endoscopy although this finding is an important clue to diagnosis. Strictures, a frequent consequence, can be safely managed by dilation.

Clinical and endoscopic features of XXXX in adults.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['men', 'women', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity5202 :: ('MESH:D057765', 'Disease') :: ['Eosinophilic esophagitis', 'eosinophilic esophagitis'] @entity1282 :: ('MESH:D003680', 'Disease') :: ['Dysphagia', 'dysphagia']
@entity5202 :: (MESH:D057765,Disease) :: ['eosinophilic esophagitis']
