Can someone explain these medical terms for me please

Hi
We've been told my daughter has gastro-oesophageal reflux and just got a letter stating her endoscopy showed
"chronically inflamed oesophageal squamous mucosa with focal basal hyperplasia".

I've googled it but only get a lot of medical speel which I cant make head nor tail of so really need a layman's explanation.

Thanks

Only briefly and this letter came after so although we know she has the reflux and she's been put on losec, that's it at the moment. We are due to see doctor next week. I've taken her off losec as it gave her stomach ache.

"chronically inflamed oesophageal squamous mucosa with focal basal hyperplasia".

Hi,

I agree you should ask for clarification - GP could oblige or the GI cons could obviously (you could ask to speak to his or her junior doctor or reg as they would also be able to translate).

Having said that, I think it basically means that the oesophageal (gullet) tissues have been suffering inflammation over a prolonged period of time (which you will know from how long she has had the symptoms) - in addition to this there are patches where the cells are renewing themselves at a higher rate than normal (which can be a response to repeated 'assault'). Hyperplasia is benign - though in adults it can raise suspicion and put that area under close observation for a while until they decide things are just staying as they are. In a child I'm guessing they would be less concerned as to how it may evolve over time, but the real issue is controlling the reflux so that the tissues can recover and repair. I think rather than worrying about anything nasty, you may want to ask what the chances of scar tissue forming are and keep nagging them as to what they plan to do next.

Hope that helps - please do get some professional input to reassure yourself on the meaning of the results as well though!

MMM

Post Edited (mudmagnetmum) : 4/13/2012 3:14:25 PM (GMT-6)

I asked my GI the same thing. He said it means there is inflammation that is benign. Less than helpful. My surgeon explained it by saying the constant acid coming up from the stomach is causing irritation to the esophageal tissue. This tissue reacts by trying to become stomach tissue by producing cells more similar to those in the stomach. Made a lot of sense to me. The body is trying to protect itself by producing cells that are tough enough to take the acid abuse.

Peggy

Hello again,

Sounds like good progress at the appointment in terms of their response. I guess it's possible that when she's a fully grown young adult they may decide she's eligible for surgery, if she's still dependent on medication at that time. I imagine she'd be offered the Nissen at some point, don't you think?

It's also possible that when she's an adult she may be able to do her own experiments with going dairy free or vegan, or food combining or Kaufman diet (who knows what we'll all be trying in another decade!!) and she may strike lucky with some other tactic that helps her control it.

As a mum myself, I suppose you go for what gives them the best quality childhood for now and rethink everything when she's ready and able to consider the long term picture.

It might be worth asking about calcium supplements, and possibly also monitoring her iron status, as both of those can be affected by the long term use of ppis.

If it's any comfort to you, I have a friend who has been on ppis pretty much life long - was a premature baby, but 40 something years later he seems well on it and certainly has a much more relaxed diet than I do! If my ppi let me drink alcohol and coffee, I'd be very happy too!

Good luck with the paed - if he/she is very 'dismissive' of the allergy aspect, ask if they know any allergy specialists in the area that you could be referred to, if you're interested in following through on that line of enquiry.

MMM

MMM,

I just answered your post on the other thread.

Rainbow,

You could have her try the food combining program, and the slippery elm powder. They are both very effective, MUCH more so than medication, and with alot lesser side effects.

I disagree Smurfy, swelling is not the same as inflammation although the 2 things can occur simultaneously. Focal basal hyperplasia is not necessarily auto immune, it's just the cells having a higher than normal turn over rate in response to acid backwash. The family concerned are already headed to a paediatric cons - and they, like me, are in the UK where you can't just decide who you are going to see next. Hopefully the Paediatric cons will include auto immune antibodies in the screening that he or she does.

MMM