食道病変の病理診断と問題点

Pathological diagnosis of esophageal lesions

要旨

　食道疾患の診療にかかわる臨床医・病理医にとって知っておきたい病理学的事項を整理し，食道の正常組織像，食道病変の病理診断概要，生検検体および内視鏡的切除検体の病理診断における注意点の順に，現状の問題点も含めて概説した。問題点については，診断基準には明確なものと曖昧なものが存在すること，今後解決すべき課題，臨床情報の重要性，病理医が陥りやすいピットフォール，臨床・病理連携の意義などについて解説した。

　This article introduces important pathological issues for physicians and pathologists working on esophageal diseases. The normal histology of the esophagus, an overview of the pathological diagnosis of esophageal lesions, and current problems are outlined. In particular, the current problems include the existence of clear and ambiguous diagnostic criteria, issues related to diagnostic reproducibility among pathologists, the importance of clinical information for pathologists, pitfalls that pathologists are prone to, and the significance of collaboration between endoscopists and pathologists.