PLoS ONE (Jan 2014)

Association of esophageal inflammation, obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease: from FDG PET/CT perspective.

  • Yen-Wen Wu,
  • Ping-Huei Tseng,
  • Yi-Chia Lee,
  • Shan-Ying Wang,
  • Han-Mo Chiu,
  • Chia-Hung Tu,
  • Hsiu-Po Wang,
  • Jaw-Town Lin,
  • Ming-Shiang Wu,
  • Wei-Shiung Yang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0092001
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 3
p. e92001

Abstract

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ObjectiveGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with bothersome symptoms and neoplastic progression into Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. We aim to determine the correlation between GERD, esophageal inflammation and obesity with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).MethodsWe studied 458 subjects who underwent a comprehensive health check-up, which included an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, FDG PET/CT and complete anthropometric measures. GERD symptoms were evaluated with Reflux Disease Questionnaire. Endoscopically erosive esophagitis was scored using the Los Angeles classification system. Inflammatory activity, represented by standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of FDG at pre-determined locations of esophagus, stomach and duodenum, were compared. Association between erosive esophagitis, FDG activity and anthropometric evaluation, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue volumes were analyzed.ResultsSubjects with erosive esophagitis (n = 178, 38.9%) had significantly higher SUVmax at middle esophagus (2.69±0.74 vs. 2.41±0.57, PConclusionsEsophageal inflammation demonstrated by FDG PET/CT correlates with endoscopic findings and symptomatology of GERD. Obesity markers, both visceral and general, are independent determinants of esophageal inflammation.