Trial of Argon Plasma Coagulation in Patients with Heterotopic Gastric Mucosa Presenting with Laryngopharyngeal Symptoms Heterotopic gastric mucosa, Inlet patch, Argon plasma coagulation

Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus, in which the inlet patch is a salmon-colored valvet patch, is located mainly below the upper esophageal sphincter. The acid secretion and inflammation from heterotopic gastric mucosa causes laryngopharyngeal symptoms. Generally, the management of heterotopic gastric mucosa depends on the symptoms, and the condition is generally treated by proton pump inhibitor. Recently, it was reported that argon plasma coagulation (APC) is effective when medical treatment fails. A 49-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman with symptoms of globus sensation and hoarseness visited this clinic. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a flat salmon-colored patch located at the upper esophagus. The former patient failed medical treatment and the latter did not require long term medical treatment. Therefore, the patients were treated with APC, which resulted in an improvement in symptoms. APC treatment may improve the symptoms of patients with heterotopic gastric mucosa of the cervical esophagus. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2008;36:74-77)