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Query: UMLS:C0014848 (achalasia)
 2,804 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Achalasia secondary to malignancy is rare, with most cases associated with gastric adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. This report describes the clinicopathologic features of a 64-year-old man found to have mesothelioma as the cause of secondary achalasia. To our knowledge, this is the first case of secondary achalasia produced by a mesothelioma. We reviewed the English literature in regard to achalasia induced by tumors.
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PMID:Esophageal achalasia secondary to mesothelioma. 275 76

Secondary achalasia is commonly due to cancer. Benign causes are rare and an association with pancreatitis has never been made. Our patient presented with clinical, manometric, endoscopic, and radiographic features of achalasia that occurred in conjunction with a pancreatic pseudocyst extending into the mediastinum. Documentation of this unique relationship was made on two occasions after episodes of complicated pancreatitis and was confirmed by restoration of normal esophageal function after drainage of the pseudocyst. Onset of dysphagia occurring in association with pancreatitis suggests the presence of a pseudocyst and secondary achalasia.
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PMID:Pancreatic pseudocyst as a cause for secondary achalasia. 290 23

Esophageal achalasia, characterized by failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax normally with swallowing and esophageal aperistalsis, may be primary or secondary to another disorder (in the United States most often cancer). Primary achalasia is of unclear etiology but almost certainly is a disorder of the innervation of the smooth muscle portion of the esophagus. This article reviews the classification and clinical features of achalasia syndromes, as well as current concepts of pathogenesis, diagnosis, complications, and therapy of this group of disorders.
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PMID:Esophageal achalasia syndromes. 327 92

Malignancies involving the gastric cardia or distal esophagus can result in a clinical syndrome termed pseudoachalasisa that mimics idiopathic achalasia. If not promptly recognized, pseudoachalasia can result in inappropriate pneumatic dilatation of the lower esophageal sphincter segment and delay appropriate treatment of the underlying malignancy. During the past 14 years, six patients with pseudoachalasia and 161 patients with primary idiopathic achalasia were encountered. Pseudoachalasia occurred mainly in the elderly and represented about 9 percent of these patients over 60 years of age with suspected achalasia. Five of the six pseudoachalasia cases were secondary to adenocarcinoma that originated in the gastric fundus, and one was caused by a squamous cell carcinoma of the distal esophagus. Conventional esophageal manometry did not discriminate achalasia from pseudoachalasia. On the other hand, esophagogastroscopy with biopsy resulted in a diagnosis of pseudoachalasia in five of these cases and in 24 of 32 cases reported previously. Ominous endoscopic findings are mucosal ulceration or nodularity, reduced compliance of the esophagogastric junction, or an inability to pass the endoscope into the stomach. Radiographic evaluation, particularly in conjunction with amyl nitrite inhalation, was also useful in discriminating pseudoachalasia from primary achalasia. It is concluded that pseudoachalasia generally mimics idiopathic achalasia imperfectly and can usually be diagnosed prior to surgery by fastidious endoscopic and radiographic examination.
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PMID:Comparison of pseudoachalasia and achalasia. 354 47

Malignancy involving the gastro-oesophageal junction can present with features very similar to those of idiopathic achalasia. Failure to identify such cases may delay effective treatment of a curable tumour. We report four patients with malignant dysphagia who were initially referred for treatment of achalasia--the diagnosis based on clinical, radiographic and endoscopic findings in each case. In all four, oesophageal manometry suggested, correctly, that the diagnosis of achalasia was incorrect, allowing early surgical exploration. We suggest that the diagnosis of achalasia should be confirmed by manometric studies--particularly in elderly patients with a short history and weight loss as these features are frequently associated with malignancy.
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PMID:Achalasia or malignancy? Confirmation of the diagnosis by oesophageal manometry. 359 84

In cases of mild symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux, standard antireflux surgery, such as fundoplication or the Angelchik prosthesis, produces satisfactory results. Duodenal diversion is recommended for use only in patients with severe oesophageal damage. This situation commonly arises where the gastro-oesophageal junction cannot be reduced into the abdomen, or where previous surgery has made reoperation at the hiatus difficult and hazardous. Fifty-seven patients with severe reflux oesophagitis have been treated by Roux-en-Y duodenal diversion and antrectomy. Thirty three patients had vagotomy in addition. Median follow-up after operation is 6.1 years. In 35 patients (61%), the technique was used as primary surgical treatment. These included 22 patients in a randomized trial of the method. Thirteen (23%) had previously had unsuccessful antireflux surgery. Nine (16%) had undergone previous operations for peptic ulcer or achalasia. There was no operative mortality. No patient in the series required stricture resection. Good or excellent overall results were achieved in 86% of patients. Eighteen of twenty seven patients with severe strictures required an average of three dilatations after operation before dysphagia was completely relieved. Heartburn was dramatically relieved and oesophagitis settled within an average period of 6 months. Poor or unsatisfactory overall results were observed in 8 (14%) patients. These included one tight fibrous stricture which required endoscopic intubation despite resolution of oesophagitis, and four patients who developed a stomal ulcer. No patients suffered from the dumping syndrome. Malignancy must be carefully excluded by biopsy in all cases of stricture.
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PMID:Duodenal diversion with vagotomy and antrectomy for severe or recurrent reflux oesophagitis and stricture: an alternative to operation at the hiatus. 378 11

Abdominocervical (transhiatal) oesophagectomy was carried out in 8 patients. Five of 6 with oesophageal cancer were elderly (aged 75-88 years), and one was 59 years old. Two patients (aged 54 and 74 years) had recurrent achalasia and megaoesophagus 30 years after cardiomyotomy. Chest complications were common, but there were no anastomotic leaks and no deaths. In 2 patients with large paraoesophageal hiatal hernias oesophagectomy had not been planned; the procedure was undertaken for an unexpected carcinoma of the cardia and an oesophageal tear. Three patients have died of recurrent cancer at 12, 17 and 21 months. The 5 survivors are swallowing satisfactorily, although one has required two dilatations of an anastomotic stricture.
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PMID:Abdominocervical oesophagectomy in the elderly. 407 62

Computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen has proved to be helpful in the preoperative staging of both esophageal and gastric carcinoma. The gastroesophageal junction however, is a difficult area to evaluate as variations in normal anatomy may mimic pathological processes. Pseudomasses at the gastroesophageal junction can be confused with neoplasm. The CT appearance of the GE junction was evaluated in 150 normal patients. CT scans were also performed on 15 patients with carcinoma involving the GE junction. Twenty cases of benign diseases of the GE junction were also studied by CT. Anatomy--The normal anatomy of the gastroesophageal junction will be illustrated with both line diagrams and CT images. The hepatogastric ligament and the caudate lobe of the liver will be demonstrated and their use in locating the GE junction will be shown. Technique--A short segment describing the appropriate technique for CT of the gastroesophageal junction will follow. The use of oral and intravenous contrast will be discussed. The need for distension of the stomach with effervescent agents and oral contrast as well as the use of decubitus and prone positioning will be emphasized when a mass-like density is seen at the GE junction. Examples will be provided. A pseudomass at the GE junction on a supine CT will be shown that disappears with distension and decubitus scanning. This will be used to lead into the next section on neoplasm in which the first example will have an identical appearance on supine CT images. Neoplasm--The relative incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma at the GE junction will be briefly reviewed. The similar CT appearance of the neoplasms will be described and liberally illustrated. Metastatic involvement of lymph nodes adjacent to the GE junction will also be shown. The staging classification for CT evaluation of GE neoplasms will be reviewed. The utility of preoperative staging of esophageal and gastric neoplasms will be briefly reviewed and applied to the GE junction. Our series of patients with cancer of the GE junction will be discussed. The importance of the CT detection of criteria of inoperability will be demonstrated with examples of metastatic involvement of the liver and lymph nodes as well as direct invasion of adjacent organs. Benign Disease--Examples of benign stricture, hiatal hernia, and achalasia will be illustrated. Our cases where CT scans helped rule out a malignant process that had been suggested on barium studies will be reviewed. Summary and Conclusions--Important points of technique, normal anatomy, benign and malignant disease will be briefly reviewed.
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PMID:Computed tomography of the gastroesophageal junction. 637 68

Esophageal motor disorders may be clearly primary, as in achalasia or diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), or clearly secondary, as in scleroderma or intrathoracic malignancy. In patients with gastroesophageal reflux, abnormal motility of the esophageal body and stomach, and lower esophageal spasm (LES) appear to predispose patients to reflux. It is possible that esophagitis caused by refluxed gastric material then further impairs motility, propagating the injury. Therapeutically, appropriate use of recently available medications, such as calcium channel blockers and metoclopramide, and new applications of previously available agents, such as hydralazine and bethanechol, have improved our ability to relieve symptoms and at times restore more normal motility.
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PMID:Motor disorders of the esophagus: diagnosis and treatment. 646 93

Since 1979 our policy for management of esophageal perforation has included correction of underlying esophageal disorder as part of the initial treatment in selected cases. A series of 23 patients is presented, of whom 3 were managed conservatively and 20 surgically. The overall mortality rate was 8.7%. Concomitant operation of underlying esophageal disease and perforation was done in eight cases within 12 hours of the perforation. These operations included emergency resection and esophagogastrostomy in five patients (4 with stenosis and 1 with cancer). A Heller myotomy was done in addition to suture repair in two patients with achalasia, and a Belsey Mark IV hernia repair was added to the esophageal suture closure in a patient with gastroesophageal reflux and hiatal hernia. A postoperative fistula healed spontaneously in one of the eight patients, and the early postoperative course was uncomplicated in the other seven. Simultaneous correction of underlying esophageal disease in patients with iatrogenic perforation of the esophagus seems to be safe when perforation is diagnosed at an early stage. Such a radical approach is clearly beneficial.
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PMID:Advisability of concomitant immediate surgery for perforation and underlying disease of the esophagus. 652 78


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