Damage to the mucous membrane of the esophagus, or leukoplakia, involves a complex process of death of epithelial cells. The neglected form of the disease leads to a modification of the organ, which violates its ability to transport food from the pharynx to the stomach. In the article, we will dwell in detail on the causes and methods of treating leukoplakia, and also explain why you can not drink hot tea with gastrointestinal pathologies.
Concept of the disease
Many pathologies of the digestive tract are associated with damage to the mucous membrane of the epithelium. Esophageal leukoplakia is no exception.
The disease develops in stages. First, the submucosal layer of the esophagus is deformed. Then, the 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. A cancerous tumor gradually forms.
Types of Leukoplakia
Esophageal leukoplakia can be simple when cell division is fast. 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 mucous membrane of the esophagus. Then it spreads to the inner surface of the cheeks, tongue and gums. Plaque removal is not possible.
- Verrucous. It is a consequence of a flat variety of the disease. Instead of plaque, pale plaques, lumps and warts appear on the oral mucosa. They differ in color from healthy tissues, grow rapidly.
- Erosive. Badly healing fissures and sores appear in the esophagus. The entire pathological process is accompanied by severe pain.
- Leukoplakia Tappeynera. Clouding of the mucous membrane of the palate is observed. Over time, red nodules appear on it.
- Soft. It is accompanied by swelling of the mucosa, its peeling. There are no signs of inflammation.
Determining the type of disease during the diagnosis helps to choose the most effective treatment option.
Main reasons
Damage to 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 the following:
- Smoking. The effect of cigarette tar on the esophagus leads to keratinization and inflammation of its mucosa.
- Alcohol abuse. Strong alcohol can burn the mucous membrane, leading to its thickening.
- Vitamin deficiency. We are talking about vitamins of groups 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 scarring and roughening. That's why you can not drink hot tea and other drinks - in order to avoid gastrointestinal tract pathologies.
- Genetic abnormalities.
- The presence of papillomavirus in the body.
The list of reasons shows that in most cases it is a person who, through his behavior and lifestyle, provokes the development of the disease.
Clinical picture
The first symptoms of esophageal leukoplakia appear in the oral cavity. 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 in the immune system. However, after a short period of time, plaques appear. Expanding, they transform into erosion. The next stage of the pathological process is cancer.
As the disease progresses, other symptoms arise, which are important to pay attention to:
- coughing after every meal;
- sore and sore throat;
- hoarseness of voice;
- sensation of a coma in the throat.
At the initial stage of the disease, some patients have dysphagia. It is characterized by a feeling of discomfort when eating. There is also increased salivation, difficulty swallowing. Belching, nausea, halitosis are possible. Due to painful sensations, which are accompanied by a burning sensation during digestion, patients quickly lose weight.
Diagnostic Methods
Before starting treatment, it is necessary to undergo examination by a gastroenterologist. It is carried out in order to identify the form and severity of the pathological process.
Diagnosis of leukoplakia of the esophagus involves examination of the mucous tissues of the organ. A histological analysis and a tissue sample from the affected areas on FGDS are performed. After this, individual treatment is prescribed, including drug therapy and dieting. 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 hazardous work, a person is transferred to another position while maintaining salary. This is provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation. Under therapeutic measures, the stomach and duodenum fall.
Drug treatment
Treatment of leukoplakia of the esophagus begins with the appointment of vitamins of group A. Additionally, it is recommended to take trace elements that strengthen the immune system. In a hospital setting, therapy involves intramuscular injection of Thiamine Bromide. The dosage and duration of the course of administration is determined by the attending physician.
To restore the nervous system, sedatives are prescribed. It can be a well-known motherwort or tincture of valerian. In order to eliminate inflammatory processes, antiviral agents are prescribed.
Chemotherapy
The mucous membrane 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 means taking the following drugs: "Methotrexate", "Cisplatin", "Etoposide." As a result, the severity of inflammation decreases, the process of the transformation of healthy cells into malignant slows down.
Dieting
The diet for leukoplakia does not provide for strict rules. However, some restrictions are necessary to enable the mucosa to heal and begin to function fully. Spices, hot dishes, spicy foods fall under the ban. This will help to avoid new burns of the esophagus with food and its irritations.
Dishes should be at room temperature. Better to cook them for a couple or bake in the oven. The emphasis in the diet should be on watery cereals, vegetable soups, lean meats.
An 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 useful.
Surgical intervention
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, relapse of the disease can be prevented and the healing process accelerated.
In modern medicine, they offer several options for the surgical elimination of leukoplakia:
- Electrocoagulation Using a high-frequency current, the doctor removes areas of the keratinized mucosa.
- Laser surgery Neoplasms are excised by exposure to a beam of light.
- Cryodestruction. During the procedure, ultra-low temperatures are used to freeze and subsequently remove keratinized tissues.
The choice of intervention method depends on the severity of the disease and the general health of the patient. The clinical picture, age of the patient and the presence of concomitant ailments are also taken into account.
Help traditional medicine
Treatment with 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, adversely 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, filled with a small amount of vodka, insisted for 2 weeks. Then the tincture should be filtered. Use from a ratio of 1-2 drops per glass of water. Daily dosage should be increased to 40 drops in half a glass of liquid.
- Fir water. A few tablespoons of the plant’s needles must be boiled in boiling water at the rate of 130 g of raw material per 0.5 l of water, leave to simmer over low heat. After this, the product should be infused in a dark place for about 10 hours. The tool is recommended to take several sips during the day.
- Vegetable juices. Hot milk and other fermented milk products are prohibited in case of leukoplakia, and vegetable juices are useful. Carrot and beetroot options soothe the mucous membrane of the esophagus and have a positive effect on digestion.
Properly selected herbs, together with drug therapy, accelerate 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 the esophagus irritants and bad habits are eliminated.