D'Agostino L, Manguso F, Bennato R, Scaramuzzo A
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University, Via S Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Dig Liver Dis. 2004 Sep;36(9):632-4. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2003.11.032.
Pill oesophagitis is a frequent clinical entity that may induce dysphagia and exceptionally oesophageal occlusion. The mechanisms inducing mucosal inflammation are not completely defined, but oesophageal damage occurring when the caustic content of a drug remains in the oesophagus long enough to produce mucosal lesions seems to be a main factor. We report a case of a life-threatening stenosing pill hypopharynx-oesophagitis caused by the ingestion of a capsule of tamsulosin, a drug diffusely used for benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment.