The esophageal inlet patch is a focus of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus.
Criteria for an inlet patch:
(1) salmon-pink lesion described as velvety
(2) located at or just below the the level of the upper esophageal sphincter
(3) consists of cardiac or fundic-type gastric mucosa
Complications associated with the inlet patch:
(1) esophageal reflux
(2) inflammation with Helicobacter pylori
(3) peptic ulceration
(4) intestinal metaplasia
(5) esophageal web or stricture
(6) adenocarcinoma
Clinical findings that can improve after removal of an inlet patch or treatment with proton pump inhibitors:
(1) chronic cough
(2) dysphagia
(3) laryngopharyngeal reflux with hoarseness
(4) chest pain
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Specialty: Gastroenterology
