Esophagus
Esophagitis
Graft versus host disease
Author: Elliot Weisenberg, M.D.
Last author update: 1 October 2012
Last staff update: 14 September 2023
Copyright: 2003-2025, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Graft versus host disease esophagus
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Case reports | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Weisenberg E. Graft versus host disease. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/esophagusGVHD.html. Accessed January 20th, 2025.
Definition / general
- Common after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Ann Hematol 2004;83:101)
Case reports
- Causing bullous esophagitis (Am J Gastroenterol 1997;92:529)
- Acute esophageal stricture after bone marrow transplantation (Bone Marrow Transplant 1988;3:513)
Gross description
- Desquamative esophagitis with web formation
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, dyskeratotic squamous cells and apoptosis of individual squamous cells in noninflamed background is diagnostic
- Also have increased submucosal fibrosis associated with mucosal esophagitis and ulceration (Gastroenterology 1981;80:914)
- May be disparity between severity of clinical disease and biopsy findings
- Findings may be focal, may need serial sections
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
With lymphocytic infiltrate
Differential diagnosis
- Scleroderma: fibrosis but no apoptotic squamous cells, different clinical history
