[Radiographic Study of the Oesophagus of Chagasic Patients in 25 Years of the Mambaí Project]

This work describes radiography studies of the esophagus in chagasic patients of the Mambaí project over a 25 year period. Each person realized two radiographs in four different periods (1975-1976, 1980-1982, 1988-1991 and 1998-2000). The first radiograph was realized in the right anterior oblique position after swallowing 75 ml of barium sulphate solution and another 60 seconds later. In all periods the same methodology was used. The radiographs were read by the same researcher, and the megaesophagus was classified in four groups according to Rezende and colleagues. The prevalence of megaesophagus was 5.2%; 5.0%; 18.6% and 13.9% in 1975-1976, 1980-1982, 1988-1991 and 1998-2000 respectively. The incidence of megaesophagus from 1975 to 2000 was 11.5% (51/445). During 25 year, 394 (84.2%) patients presented radiographs normal of esophagus, 11 (2.3%) diagnosed as megaesophagus in 1975-1976 did not progress, 61 (13%) that were normal, doubtful or already presented megaesophagus in 1975-1976, progressed and 2 (0.4%) presented regression of group I megaesophagus, diagnosed in previous studies.