candidiasis of esophagus (moniliasis)

findings:
• long esophageal segments involved (more common in lower 1/2)
• 1-2 mm nodular filling defects with linear orientation (plaques)
• "cobble stone": mucosal nodularity in early stage
• shaggy, fuzzy, serrated contour (from pseudomembranes, erosions, ulcerations, intramural hemmorhage)
• narrowed lumen (spasm, pseudomembrane, edema)
• "intramural diverticulosis"
• sluggish/absent peristalsis

DDx:
• reflux esophagitis
• herpes esophagitis
• acute caustic ingestion
• intramural pseudotics
• squamous papillomatosis
• glycogen acanthosis
• Barrett esophagus
• superficial spreading Ca
• epidermolysis bullosa
• varices

diagnostic sensitivity: endoscopy (97%), double contrast (88%), single contrast (55%)

© 2002, C.E. Kahn, Jr.
2002-04-18