Air column in esophagus and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease

The cross-sectional imaging study was conducted at Rasole Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran. A total of 44 patients underwent X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning; the presence of air in the esophagus and visible on CT imaging was scrutinized.The average age of the subjects was 59 and the male to female ratio was 0.83. We found a significant relationship between the presence of GERD symptoms, the size of air bubbles and esophageal dilation (ED) on the CT scan.Air bubbles in the esophagus may be seen frequently in CT scans, but their size and location can vary. The GERD symptoms can arise when a small diameter air column is present within the esophagus, especially in the middle and lower parts.Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is disruptive and places a great clinical and economic burden on patients and society as a whole [1]. A recent study estimated that 20% of the adult US population experience GERD-related symptoms at least once a week [2]. The disease is sometimes accompanied by extraluminal symptoms such as chronic cough, laryngitis, asthma and sinusitis [3]. GERD is one of the most common diseases that can be treated in many of those patients who suffer from it [4].Air is usually seen in radiological exams of the normal esophagus, but the extent and distribution of air has not been well described, and there is a paucity of data [5]. Previously Proto showed air seen in 36% of normal chest radiograph and then in a study [6] reported that an air column is visible in 64% of CT scans of the normal esophagus. Bhalla and Silver [7] defined esophageal dilatation (ED) as an air column greater than 10 mm in the coronal plane. Ponce revealed that increase in esophageal diameter in is associated with greater disease evolution [8]. Halber have showed that air in the esophagus is a normal finding [9]. However, data to confirm these findings are scarce.Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify and explore any relationships between GERD symptoms in the patients' hist