Mural Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease in 2 Pediatric Patients Presenting as Focal Mass

Abstract

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) are a diverse group of intestinal diseases involving the infiltration of eosinophils into the bowel wall. EGID can present with a variety of clinical conditions, which are largely dependent on the location of eosinophils in the intestinal wall. We describe the first reported pediatric cases of EGID presenting with symptomatic partial bowel obstruction from intestinal masses due to isolated focal mural involvement. Both patients subsequently responded favorably to therapy with exclusive elemental nutrition in the first case and exclusive elemental nutrition with steroids in the second case. These cases reveal the wide-ranging clinical manifestations of EGID, expand on the differential diagnosis of focal intestinal masses, and provide guidance on the evaluation of ambiguous cases.

Preliminary evidence in treatment of eosinophilic gastroenteritis in children: A case series

“…Generally, the most common symptoms of eosinophilic gastroenteritis include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, bloating, burping, and intestinal obstruction[ 6 , 9 - 11 ]. Some patients may also experience loss of appetite, general weakness, foreign body sensation in the pharynx, dysphagia, focal mass, and massive ascites[ 12 , 13 ]. Moreover, eosinophilic gastroenteritis in children and adolescents may severely cause growth retardation, delayed puberty, and amenorrhea.…”