Esophageal involvement in Behçet's syndrome

Two patients with Behcet's syndrome had severe esophageal involvement. Both presented the complete clinical pattern (oral, genital, and eye lesions) of Behcet's syndrome. In both, esophageal lesions were associated with other gastrointestinal manifestations, in the first a transient episode of ulcerative ileitis, and in the second patient colitis. In both, the differential diagnosis with inflammatory bowel disease was very difficult. Histology of esophageal lesions was nonspecific; no vasculitis was found. Both patients improved on steroid therapy. Esophageal lesions also improved endoscopically and histologically with steroid therapy. When there is obvious gastrointestinal involvement in Behcet's syndrome, the differential diagnosis from inflammatory bowel disease is very difficult.