Esophageal mucosal damage, or leukoplakia, involves a complex process of death of epithelial cells. The advanced form of the disease leads to a modification of the organ, which disrupts its ability to transport food from the pharynx to the stomach. In the article, we will dwell on the causes and methods of treating leukoplakia, and also tell you why you should not drink hot tea with gastrointestinal pathologies.
Illness concept
Many pathologies of the digestive tract are associated with damage to the mucous epithelium. Esophageal leukoplakia is no exception.
The disease develops in stages. First, the submucosal layer of the esophagus is deformed. Then its membrane and lymph nodes are included in the pathological process. It spreads over the entire area of the organ, significantly narrowing the lumen. Neighboring tissues are not affected. A whitish coating appears on the oral mucosa. Plaques that form in the esophagus begin to harden and increase in size. Gradually formed cancerswelling.
Varieties of leukoplakia
Esophageal leukoplakia can be simple when cells divide rapidly. As a result, they soon undergo a process of keratinization. A hard coating is formed on the organ itself. The second type of disease is atypical, when atrophic changes are observed during cell division.
In addition, the following forms of pathology are distinguished:
- Flat. A whitish film forms on the mucosa of the esophagus. Then it spreads to the inner surface of the cheeks, tongue and gums. Plaque cannot be removed.
- Verrucous. It is a consequence of a flat variety of the disease. Instead of plaque on the oral mucosa, pale plaques, lumps and warts appear. They differ in color from he althy tissues, grow rapidly.
- Erosive. In the esophagus, poorly healing cracks and sores occur. The whole pathological process is accompanied by severe pain.
- Tuppeiner's leukoplakia. Clouding of the palate mucosa is observed. Over time, red nodules appear on it.
- Soft. Accompanied by swelling of the mucosa, its peeling. No signs of inflammation.
Determining the type of disease during the diagnosis helps to choose the most effective treatment option.
Main reasons
The defeat of the walls of the esophagus in most cases occurs due to bad habits in humans. The disease equally affects men and women, but most often after 30 years. The treatment is always the same. The main causes of esophageal leukoplakia are as follows:
- Smoking. The impact of cigarette tar on the esophagus leads to keratinization and inflammation of its mucosa.
- Alcohol abuse. Strong alcohol can burn the mucosa, causing it to thicken.
- Vitamin deficiency. We are talking about vitamins A, B, C and folic acid.
- Dentures. The metal from which the structures are made oxidizes and poisons the esophagus.
- Hot food. Regular burns contribute to the appearance of scars and coarsening. That's why you can not drink hot tea and other drinks - in order to avoid gastrointestinal pathologies.
- Deviations at the genetic level.
- The presence of papillomavirus in the body.
From the list of reasons it is clear that in most cases it is the person who, by his behavior and lifestyle, provokes the development of the disease.
Clinical picture
The first symptoms of esophageal leukoplakia appear in the mouth. A gray coating covers the cheeks, gums and partially the tongue. Most people do not pay attention to the violation, perceiving it as a malfunction of the immune system. However, plaques appear after a short period of time. Growing, they are transformed into erosion. The next stage of the pathological process is cancer.
As the disease progresses, there are other symptoms that are important to pay attention to:
- coughing fits after every meal;
- itchy and sore throat;
- hoarse voice;
- coma feeling inthroat.
Dysphagia occurs in some patients at the initial stage of the disease. It is characterized by a feeling of discomfort when eating. There is also increased salivation, difficulty swallowing. There may be belching, nausea, bad breath. Due to the painful sensations that are accompanied by a burning sensation during digestion, patients lose weight fairly quickly.
Diagnostic Methods
Before starting treatment, it is necessary to be examined by a gastroenterologist. It is carried out in order to identify the form and severity of the pathological process.
Diagnosis of esophageal leukoplakia involves examination of the mucous tissues of the organ. A histological analysis and a sample of tissues from the affected areas for FGDS are performed. After that, individual treatment is prescribed, including drug therapy and diet. In some cases, surgery is required.
The main goal of therapy is to eliminate the root cause of the disease. If it is provoked by smoking or alcohol, it is necessary to eradicate addictions. In case of metal oxide poisoning, dentures are removed from the oral cavity. When leukoplakia is the result of work in a hazardous industry, a person is transferred to another position while maintaining a salary. This is provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation. The stomach and duodenum fall under therapeutic measures.
Medicated treatment
TreatmentLeukoplakia of the esophagus begins with the appointment of vitamins of group A. Additionally, it is recommended to take microelements that strengthen the immune system. In a hospital setting, therapy involves intramuscular injections of "Thiamin bromide". The dosage and duration of the course of admission is determined by the attending physician.
Sedative drugs are prescribed to restore the functioning of the nervous system. It can be the well-known motherwort or valerian tincture. In order to eliminate inflammatory processes, antiviral agents are prescribed.
Administration of chemotherapy
The mucosa of the esophagus is highly resistant to chemotherapy. Therefore, this method of treatment is rarely used. However, thanks to the active development of medicine, doctors managed to achieve positive results from the use of chemoradiotherapy. As a rule, it involves taking the following drugs: Methotrexate, Cisplatin, Etoposide. As a result, the severity of inflammation decreases, and the process of degeneration of he althy cells into malignant ones slows down.
Dieting
Diet for leukoplakia does not provide for strict rules. However, some restrictions are necessary to allow the mucosa to heal and begin to function fully. Spices, hot dishes, spicy foods are banned. This will help avoid new food burns and irritations of the esophagus.
Meals should be at room temperature. They are best steamed or baked in the oven. The emphasis in the diet should be on watery cereals,vegetable soups, lean meats.
The ideal option is a diet developed by a specialist in accordance with the individual characteristics of the body. The diet in this case will be balanced and he althy.
Surgery
If conservative treatment of esophageal leukoplakia is ineffective, resort to surgical intervention. However, even after excision of the keratinized area, drug therapy cannot be stopped. With its help, you can prevent relapses of the disease and speed up the healing process.
Modern medicine offers several options for the surgical removal of leukoplakia:
- Electrocoagulation. With the help of high-frequency current, the doctor removes areas of keratinized mucosa.
- Laser surgery. Neoplasms are excised by exposure to a beam of light.
- Cryodestruction. The procedure uses ultra-low temperatures to freeze and then remove dead tissue.
The choice of method of intervention depends on the severity of the disease and the general he alth of the patient. The clinical picture, the age of the patient and the presence of concomitant ailments are also taken into account.
Help of traditional medicine
Treatment of folk remedies for leukoplakia of the esophagus is permissible only after consulting a doctor. Illiterate use of herbs and infusions can aggravate the course of the pathological process, negatively affect the state of the gastrointestinal tract, and lead to even greater complications.
The following recipes of traditional healers are recognized as the most effective:
- Hemlock tincture. Several inflorescences must be crushed, poured with a small amount of vodka, insisted for 2 weeks. Then the tincture should be filtered. Use at a ratio of 1-2 drops per glass of water. Daily dosage should be increased to 40 drops per half glass of liquid.
- Fir water. A few tablespoons of plant needles must be brewed in boiling water at the rate of 130 g of raw materials per 0.5 l of water, left to languish over low heat. After that, the product should be infused in a dark place for about 10 hours. The remedy is recommended to take several sips throughout the day.
- Vegetable juices. Hot milk and other fermented milk products are prohibited for leukoplakia, and vegetable juices are useful. Carrot and beetroot options soothe the esophageal mucosa well, have a positive effect on digestion.
Properly selected herbs together with medical therapy speed up the healing process.
Prognosis for recovery
With untimely treatment or lack thereof, the likelihood of the appearance of tumors of a malignant nature increases. They develop with erosive and verrucous forms of the disease. Leukoplakia responds well to therapy in the early stages, provided that esophageal irritants and bad habits are eliminated.
