eosinophilic gastroenteritis

eosinophilic infiltration of mucosa, submucosa, and muscularis of small bowel +/- stomach

stomach (almost always limited to antrum):
- enlarged gastric rugae, cobblestone nodules, polyps (=mucosal type)
- rigid wall with narrowed antrum/pylorus
- bulky inramural mass up to 9 cm (=muscular type)
- "wet stomach"
- ulcers rare
- may have ascites
small bowel (predominantly jejunum)
- thickening + distortion of folds (=mucosal type)
- effacement of mucosa + narrowing of lumen (=muscular type)
prognosis: tendency to spontaneous remission
rx: steroids; removal of sensitizing agent

Yong H. Hahn, MD - 2 February 1995
Last updated: 1 October 2013