Snoring induced reflux (SnoR) and a carcinoma in the gastro-oesophageal junction.

Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between snoring and the development of carcinomas of the gastro-oesophageal junction. The aim of the paper is to draw attention to snoring induced reflux (SnoR) observed during a routine preoperative examination in a patient with AEG type II after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. During the examination the patient (body mass index 26.5) started to snore deeply. As a consequence, remarkable morphological-functional changes at the gastro-oesophageal junction became apparent. Reflux was periodically aspirated, accompanied by snoring on inspiration. In our patient, the carcinoma developed precisely at this point of contact. The phenomenon of SnoR is demonstrated in a video. SnoR could be an explanation for the described correlation between snoring and the occurrence of carcinomas in the gastro-oesophageal junction. Further studies on the phenomenon of SnorR could be of major interest for the understanding of AEG carcinomas. It is possible that new preventive measures can be derived from these findings.