Consuming very hot food and drink can injure the inside of the food pipe, the esophagus, which extends from the throat to the stomach. Normally the inside of the esophagus is pink. But when burnt by hot liquids or solids, alternating bands of red and white regions emerge, when examined by optical devices. These regions resemble candy cane in appearance – candy cane esophagus. Candy cane is a type of boiled sweet often found in alternating red and white stripes.
The outcome depends on the extent of esophageal thermal injury, with most reported cases having favorable outcomes.
Reference:
Lim CH, Yen H-H, Su W-W, Lim C-J, Tsai H-C, Chen S-T.
Extensive Causative Esophagitis Caused by Thermal Injury: A Case Report and
Review of the Literature. Case Reports in
Gastrointestinal Medicine. 2017;2017:8243567. Go to reference
Candy cane esophagus, candy cane
