What is esophageal protrusion?

Esophageal protrusion is generally not a disease itself, but rather a pathological finding with various possible causes, analyzed as follows:

In most cases, patients are found to have protruding lesions in blood vessels or specific areas during gastroscopy. This condition is usually considered a pathological manifestation rather than a distinct disease and may result from esophagitis, esophageal polyps, or esophageal leiomyomas. However, it cannot rule out serious underlying conditions such as esophageal cancer. Esophageal protrusions can generally be classified as benign or malignant. Benign protrusions typically show normal mucosa around the blood vessels, with a smooth surface, clear boundaries, and soft texture. Malignant protrusions often present as ulcerative, erosive, or infiltrative types, with unclear borders.

Due to the wide range of potential causes for esophageal protrusion, it is impossible to definitively diagnose the underlying disease based solely on pathological appearance. It is recommended that patients undergo further evaluation at a hospital, including endoscopic ultrasound of the esophagus, to determine the origin and severity of the lesion for accurate diagnosis.