Difficulty in swallowing due;
- Esophageal stricture
- Esophageal Cancer
- Achalasia
- Gastro esophageal reflux (GERD)
- Scleroderma
- Goiter
Achalasia DYSPHAGIA Motility disorder of the lower esophagus or cardiac sphincter of stomach. The common symptoms are regurgitation, chest pain and dysphagia. It produces smooth stricture of the esophagus and appear like rat tail.
Corrosive strictures DYSPHAGIA
Corrosive strictures are the result of swallowing corrosives such as acids or alkalis. They are long strictures. As with other benign strictures, they are usually smooth with tapered ends on barium swallow examinations, but may be irregular
Malignant stricture DYSPHAGIA:
produce abrupt narrowing. It is irregular and associated with mucosal destruction.Z
Oesophageal diverticula are saccular outpouchings, which are often seen as chance findings, in the intrathoracic portion of the oesophagus.
Zenker’s diverticulum or pharyngeal pouch arises through a congenital weakness in the inferior constrictor muscle of the pharynx and comes to lie behind the oesophagus near the midline.
It may give rise to symptoms caused by retention of food and pressure upon the oesophagus and some degree of dysphagia.
Additional symptoms: Regurgitation of undigested food & Halitosis
Barium swallow (best initial test)Â
Diagnostic finding: a contrast-filled pouch protruding from the esophageal wall
