Progressive roentgenographic appearance of caustic esophagitis.

We observed progressive roentgenographic changes in five patients who had caustic esophagitis after accidental ingestion of a liquid alkali. Initial endoscopic examination showed moderate caustic esophagitis in all patients, and esophageal atony and poor distension were early roentgenographic observations. Esophageal strictures developed 13 to 44 days after caustic ingestion in all patients. Intramural pseudodiverticula complicated stricture formation in two patients. Esophageal diverticula developed in two cases, three months to one year after caustic ingestion. In summary, moderate caustic esophagitis is associated with esophageal dilatation, atony, and peristaltic abnormalities initially, and with eventual stricture formation.