A rare pitfall in the diagnosis of oesophageal atresia

The diagnosis of oesophageal atresia (OA) is usually made soon after birth. Two diagnostic criteria are failure to pass a nasogastric (NG) tube and a chest radiograph demonstrating a curled NG tube in the upper oesophageal pouch. A 6-day-old neonate was referred to our institution with persistence o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric radiology 2013-08, Vol.43 (8), p.902-904
Main Authors: Kuti, Kamal, Patel, Rakesh, Chapman, Stephen, Jawaheer, Girish
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abnormalities, Multiple - diagnostic imaging
Diagnosis, Differential
Esophageal Atresia - diagnostic imaging
Esophagus - diagnostic imaging
False Negative Reactions
Female
Humans
Imaging
Infant, Newborn
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Minisymposium
Neuroradiology
Nuclear Medicine
Oncology
Pediatrics
Radiography
Radiology
Tracheoesophageal Fistula - diagnostic imaging
Ultrasound
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Summary:The diagnosis of oesophageal atresia (OA) is usually made soon after birth. Two diagnostic criteria are failure to pass a nasogastric (NG) tube and a chest radiograph demonstrating a curled NG tube in the upper oesophageal pouch. A 6-day-old neonate was referred to our institution with persistence of symptoms following exclusion of the diagnosis of OA on the basis of an NG tube radiologically confirmed to reach the stomach. Persistent oxygen desaturations and copious salivation led to further investigations, and a delayed diagnosis of oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula was made. Radiological demonstration of an NG tube reaching the stomach does not exclude the diagnosis of oesophageal atresia and can be falsely reassuring and lead to diagnostic delay.
ISSN:0301-0449
1432-1998
DOI:10.1007/s00247-010-1685-8