Abstract

Background:Crucial in the initial evaluation and management of patients who have ingested corrosives is endoscopy. There is some discrepancy between endoscopic grading of corrosive burns and pathologic grading as a gold standard of diagnosis. The objectives of this study are to assess specificity and sensitivity of endoscopic grading and surgical gross pathology as a vital tool for surgical decision making. Methods:patients with grade 2 and 3corrosive burn based on endoscopic examinations undergo surgical exploration, grading and biopsy taking or esophagogastrectomy since ten years ago. Endoscopic and pathologic data registrations retrieved for each patient and specificity and sensitivity of each endoscopic grade was analyzed Results:Ninety four patients with mean age of 35 years old and corrosive ingestion were identified with 11.7 %at grade 2 and 21.2 %at grade 3 endoscopy.There 84 %suicidal attempts.Specificity of endoscopy at grade 2 is 48 %and sensivity is 63.%These are 68 %and 95 %in grade 3 respectively .Conclusion:Accuracy of endoscopic mucosal injury for surgical decision making is not satisfactory.Surgical exploration and esophagogastrectomy based on surgical pathology or endoscopic grading may be futile.At future finding of a new approch is essential