Eosinophilic oesophagitis and other non-reflux inflammatory conditions of the oesophagus: Diagnostic imaging and management

Non-reflux inflammatory conditions of the oesophagus are at present rarely encountered in routine clinical practice. However there has been a recent increase in their diagnosis notably due to heightened awareness of their existence and because of the emergence of a number of immunological diseases and deficiencies. Of all the non-reflux conditions, most interest and literature is emerging on the natural history, pathophysiology, endoscopic pattern and management of eosinophilic oesophagitis. This condition, which until five years ago was unknown to most physicians has now been studied worldwide and although the true prevalence remains unclear, the incidence is increasing annually. In this paper we discuss diagnostic imaging and management of non-reflux inflammatory disorders of the oesophagus with particular reference to eosinophilic oesophagitis and Crohn's disease, both conditions of probable over active immunology, to other conditions associated with immune deficiency such as infective oesophagitis (candida, CMV, HSV, HIV) and tuberculous oesophagitis, as well as drug induced oesophageal injury.