Congenital Esophageal Stenosis Presenting During Weaning in a 5-Month-Old Infant
Background/Objectives: Congenital esophageal stenosis (CES) is a rare condition that may present with feeding difficulties in infancy, often becoming evident during weaning. We report a case of CES presenting with progressive dysphagia during the introduction of solid foods. Methods: Clinical evaluation, contrast esophagography, endoscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed to characterize the stenosis and guide management. Results: Imaging revealed a fixed narrowing of the mid-distal esophagus with minimal passage of contrast and proximal dilatation. Endoscopy confirmed a non-traversable intrinsic stenosis with macroscopically normal mucosa. The patient underwent three endoscopic dilation sessions under general anesthesia using Savary-Gilliard bougies with progressive diameters (3–5 mm, 3–7 mm, and 7–11 mm). No major procedural complications occurred. At 2-month follow-up after the last dilation, feeding was appropriate for age, dysphagia had improved, and growth was regular. Conclusions: CES should be suspected in infants with feeding difficulties that worsen during weaning, particularly when symptoms are resistant to anti-reflux therapy. Endoscopic dilation can improve feeding tolerance, although repeated and staged sessions may be required. The role of adjunctive therapies such as topical budesonide remains uncertain.
Authors
- Maria Giovanna Puoti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5791-4362)
- Serena Marulo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1401-8903)
- Paolo Quitadamo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0734-7472)
- Sara Isoldi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8390-5371)
- Francesco Cirillo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6096-9436)
- Giovanni Di Nardo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9026-7758)
- Cristina Bucci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2179-217X)
- Federica Riccitiello
- Laura Aurino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9060-2595)
- Rossella Turco
- Massimo Verdicchio
Institutions
- University of Salerno (IT)
- Santobono Children's Hospital (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Children
- Published
- 2026-05-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/children13050706
- Primary Topic
- Esophageal and GI Pathology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00