Endoscopic follow-up in esophageal XXXX -for how long is it necessary?

@entity1 @entity2910 @entity254 @entity1146 @entity356
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to find out how long it is necessary to follow-up esophageal @entity1146 @entity1 endoscopically to prevent irreversible mucosal changes. METHODS: Seventy-four of 79 long-term survivors with esophageal @entity1146 and primary @entity254 underwent a total of 322 esophagogastroduodenoscopies during a follow-up period of 0.5 to 19 years (mean, 10.3) after the primary operation. For analysis, the biopsy findings were divided into 2 groups: good, histologically normal or only mildly inflamed mucosa; unfavorable, moderate or severe @entity2910 or @entity356 . Fundoplication irrespective of indications was considered unfavorable. The results were analyzed using actuarial survival analysis; the changing point was when a "good" turned into "unfavorable." RESULTS: Forty-five @entity1 (61%) remained in the "good" group throughout the study period; 15 of those (20%) had completely normal findings. Nine @entity1 (12%) had moderate, one (1%) had severe @entity2910 , and 13 @entity1 (18%) had @entity356 . Fundoplication was performed on 21 @entity1 (28%). CONCLUSIONS: About 40% of esophageal @entity1146 @entity1 eventually have significant esophageal mucosal pathology or need to have a fundoplication. The majority of these changes appear before the age of 3 years. Routine endoscopic follow-up of esophageal @entity1146 @entity1 is recommended at least to the age of 3 years.
