Radiographic and pathologic observations of eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Jung, L W; Lee, J D; Hong, S H

Abstract

This report presents two cases with eosinophilic gastroenteritis in detail. The radiographic and pathologicfeatures of eosinophilic gastroenteritis are summarized with emphasis on the differential diagnostic features.Radiographically eosinophilic gastritis should be differentiated from gastric carcinoma and lymphoma, andeosinophilic enteritis from intestinal tuberculosis and intussusception of the small bowel in Korea where theseentities are prevalent. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is pathologically characterized by diffuse infiltration ofthe submucosa and muscle coats with eosinophils in conjunction with hypertrophy of individual musce fibers. Thisleads to thickening of the gastrointestinal wall resulting in narrowing and obstruction of the lumen. Eosinophilicvenulitis is another characteristic feature which is helpful for differentiation this entity from a parasiticinfection.