The Application of Endoscopic Lugol's Solution Spraying Method for the Diagnosis of the Esophagitis: (For the follow-up Observation of Acute Severe Esophagitis)

Abstract

Endoscopic Lugol's solution spraying method is valuable for the diagnosis of esophagitis or esophageal ulcer because: a) the margin of the lesion can be found clearly. The injured epithelium remains unstained or weakly-stained with modified Lugol's solution. b) The severity of the lesion can be judged by the degree of staining of injured epithelium (complete or incomplete staining). c) The repair of the injured epithelium can be observed morphologically and functionally by the recovery of the staining and the "fine wrinkle" surface pattern of the injured epithelium. In five cases of acute severe esophagitis, endoscopic follow-up studies were performed by the endoscopic Lugol's solution spraying method. During the healing process of esophagitis, the recovery of the staining and the surface pattern of injured epithelium was observed endoscopically. The repair of injured epithelium began within fourteen days and was completed from twentyone to sixty-three days. The course of the repair of injured epithelium can be observed morphologically and functionally with this procedure and the healing of the esophagitis should be considered complete when there is full recovery of staining and surface pattern of the injured epithelium.