Glycogenic acanthosis

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Glycogenic acanthosis
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Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Usually asymptomatic
Complications	None
Onset	Typically in older adults
Duration	Chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Unknown, possibly related to aging
Risks	Aging, gastroesophageal reflux disease
Diagnosis	Endoscopy
Differential diagnosis	Esophageal candidiasis, esophageal cancer
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	None required
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Excellent
Frequency	Common in older adults
Deaths	N/A

Glycogenic acanthosis is a benign condition of the esophagus characterized by raised white or gray plaques or patches. It is a common finding during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), a diagnostic procedure that visualizes the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Etiology

The exact cause of glycogenic acanthosis is unknown. However, it is not associated with any known risk factors or diseases and is considered a normal variant of esophageal histology.

Clinical Presentation

Glycogenic acanthosis is usually asymptomatic and is often discovered incidentally during EGD. The plaques or patches are typically multiple, varying in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters. They are usually round or oval, well-demarcated, and have a velvety appearance.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of glycogenic acanthosis is usually made endoscopically and confirmed histologically. The endoscopic appearance is characteristic, and biopsy is not usually necessary unless the diagnosis is uncertain. Histologically, glycogenic acanthosis is characterized by thickening of the squamous epithelium with increased glycogen in the cells.

Treatment

No treatment is necessary for glycogenic acanthosis as it is a benign condition. However, it is important to differentiate it from other conditions that may have a similar appearance, such as esophageal cancer or esophageal candidiasis, which require treatment.

See Also

• Esophagus
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
• Esophageal cancer
• Esophageal candidiasis

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