Esophageal strictures may develop after corrosive injury. These can be graded based on the extent and degree of scarring. Grading the stricture is useful in guiding patient management.
Parameters:
(1) radial extent
(2) longitudinal extent
(3) consistency
Radial Extent |
Longitudinal Extent |
Consistency |
Grade |
noncircumferential, incomplete |
short |
fibrosis |
1 |
string like annular stricture |
short |
elastic |
2 |
stricture |
short (<= 1 cm) |
dense fibrosis |
3 |
stricture |
long (> 1 cm) |
superficial fibrosis, easily dilated, nonprogressive |
4a |
stricture |
long (> 1 cm) |
deep fibrosis, tubular, progressive, not easily dilated |
4b |
Minor burns can often be dilated endoscopically, but Grade 4b lesions often require surgical resection.
Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Gastroenterology