A Statistically Significant Association Between Esophageal Granular Cell Tumors and Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A 16-year Analysis at Two Large Hospitals of 167,434 EGDs

Abstract

Background

Esophageal granular cell tumor (eGCT) is a rare, usually benign, neoplasm of neuroectodermic origin. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a relatively uncommon, immune-mediated, chronic disease. Both diseases commonly present with dysphagia. One case has been reported of simultaneous occurrence of both diseases.

Aims

To determine the association between diseases.

Methods

The present study was an IRB-approved, retrospective review of esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) with esophageal biopsies from two large hospitals, 1999–2014.

Results

Among 29,235 EGDs with esophageal biopsies for 16 years (167,434 total EGDs), 16 patients had pathologically diagnosed eGCT, and 1225 patients had pathologically diagnosed EoE. Five (31%) of 16 patients with eGCT had concomitant EoE (p = 0.001, OR 10.43, 95% ORCI 3.16–32.44, Fisher's exact test). Patients with simultaneous eGCT and EoE were young (mean age = 33.6 ± 12.9 years). Three were female. Dysphagia was presenting symptom in 4 (80%) of patients. Three had asthma. All five patients had > 20 eosinophils/hpf in esophageal biopsy specimens. Three patients had endoscopic esophageal abnormalities suggesting EoE. Four patients were treated with a PPI (before and after diagnosis of EoE), and 2 patients underwent six-food-elimination diet with partial symptomatic improvement. The eGCTs averaged 13.4 ± 4.2 mm in maximal diameter and were located in upper-2, middle-2, and lower esophagus-2 (1 patient had 2 eGCTs). eGCTs were endoscopically resected-3 patients, and monitored-2 patients. Surveillance endoscopies revealed no recurrence or growth of eGCTs after resection (mean follow-up = 4.6 years).

Conclusions

This novel report of 5 patients with simultaneous EoE and eGCT adds to one, previously published case and suggests these two diseases are associated, and have a common pathophysiologic link, despite apparently different pathogenesis. Large, prospective, endoscopic and pathologic studies are warranted to further investigate this association.

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