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

History taking is the first step in the evaluation of a patient. An analysis of the information obtained provides the basis for the choice and order of diagnostic tests. In addition, it provides the clinician with the necessary information to determine the relevance of "abnormal tests" to the patient's problem. Dysphagia is a reliable symptom that indicates an abnormality in the swallowing mechanism. The history should contain a detailed description of the symptoms associated with dysphagia from the onset. Especially relevant are questions to determine if dysphagia is experienced every day or intermittently, with solid food or liquids or both, as well as presence and timing of associated symptoms such as, choking, coughing and regurgitation, changes in speech, heartburn and chest pain. It is clinically useful to divide swallowing into three phases: oral, pharyngeal and esophageal. Oral dysphagia is usually due to a neurologic disorder, decreased salivary flow or painful oropharyngeal lesions. Pharyngeal dysphagia is most frequently caused by neuromuscular disorders and less frequently by a Zenker's diverticulum, neoplasm or a mucosal web. Esophageal dysphagia is caused by a structural narrowing, such as produced by a peptic stricture, neoplasm or a Schatzki's ring or by a primary motility abnormality, such as achalasia or diffuse esophageal spasm or by motility abnormalities produced by inflammation caused by gastroesophageal reflux, medication-induced esophageal ulceration or infectious esophagitis.
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PMID:Art and science of history taking in the patient with difficulty swallowing. 846 26

Oropharyngeal dysphagia in adults is secondary to either a structural lesion or neuromuscular disorder of the upper esophageal sphincter. In cricopharyngeal achalasia (incomplete relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter), the etiology is usually either related to neck surgery or other neuromuscular disorders. We report on a rare case of neuromuscular oropharyngeal dysphagia secondary to bone metastases to the base of the skull. The patient is an 81-year old man with prostate cancer with metastases to the sacrum. A gastroscopy was attempted to discern the etiology of his dysphagia, but the endoscope could not be advanced. A barium swollow showed cricopharyngeal achalasia, and an magnetic resonance image of the brain demonstrated bone destruction to the floor of the left posterior fossa in the region of the jugular foramen and foramen magnum. The bone destruction caused disruption of the glosso-pharyngeal and vagus nerves. Selective radiotherapy resulted in rapid improvement in his symptoms. The primary treatment of cricopharyngeal achalasia is to correct the underlying process, if possible. This case illustrates an unusual presentation of secondary cricopharyngeal achalasia caused by cranial nerve involvement secondary to bone metastases.
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PMID:Neuromuscular oropharyngeal dysphagia secondary to bone metastases. 975 2

Dysphagia and chest pain are the two commonest symptoms of abnormalities of oesophageal motility. Dysphagia is to be distinguished into high or oropharyngeal and low or oesophageal dysphagia. Oropharyngeal dysphagia pertains to dysfunction of the pars cricopharyngea of the M. constrictor pharyngis inferior (M. cricopharyngeus), which is frequently associated with a Zenker diverticulum. Treatment consists of endoscopical or surgical myotomy and diverticulectomy. In achalasia there is incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter with aperistalsis. The main treatment modalities are endoscopic pneumodilation and surgical myotomy of this sphincter. In dysphagia or non-cardiac chest pain spastic or hypocontractile abnormalities of the oesophageal motility can be involved, these are often difficult to treat. Disorders of gastric motility are mainly gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia. In diabetic gastroparesis, adequate monitoring of the blood sugar level is also necessary. New insights into the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia concern abnormal visceral sensitivity and reduced adaptive relaxation of the stomach during intake of food.
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PMID:[Gastrointestinal surgery and gastroenterology. VII. Proximal motility disorders in the digestive tract]. 1074 45

The use of esophageal manometry seems to be increasing, but the utility of pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) manometry is not widely recognized. This article is intended to clarify this subject. Initially, we review the anatomy and physiology of this area. Most studies indicate that the manometry of the UES and pharynx provides useful information primarily in patients that have symptoms of oropharyngeal dysfunction. Oropharyngeal dysphagia has high morbidity, mortality, and cost. It occurs in one third of all stroke patients and is common in the chronic care setting; up to 60% of nursing home occupants have feeding difficulties, of whom a substantial portion have dysphagia. For patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, as for those with esophageal dysphagia, barium swallow study and manometry are complimentary. Their combined use permits us to enhance the understanding of the pathophysiologic process that causes the patient's symptoms. Abnormalities have been noted in a variety of diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, achalasia, and scleroderma. Thus, it is possible to determine the primary pathology that is causing the patient's dysphagia by analyzing the manometry results. Pharyngeal and UES manometry also has a value in evaluating patients who are candidates for myotomy or dilatation, as it can help identify patients with a prospective good outcome.
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PMID:Pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter manometry in the evaluation of dysphagia. 1160 49

Dysphagia is a common complaint that always warrants investigation. The patient's history and preliminary testing can help differentiate between the two types of dysphagia: oropharyngeal or esophageal. Specific treatments for either of these types of dysphagia depend on the underlying etiology. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is often associated with a neuromuscular disorder and is treated with swallowing rehabilitation. Esophageal dysphagia is usually due to an anatomic defect or a motility disorder. Anatomic defects can often be corrected with endoscopic or surgical procedures. Motility disorders often benefit from pharmacologic treatment. Achalasia may be corrected with an endoscopic procedure with pneumatic dilation or, more recently, with injection of botulinum toxin.
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PMID:Dysphagia. 1523 99

Swallowing occurs in 3 phases: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal. Oropharyngeal dysphagia typically is a result of neuromuscular disorders, such as stroke and parkinsonism, or of mucosal dryness caused by drugs or radiation therapy. Esophageal dysphagia is commonly caused by anatomic defects of the esophagus, such as reflux disease; motility disorders, such as achalasia; or eosinophilic esophagitis. If oropharyngeal dysphagia is suspected, the patient should undergo initial testing with a water or semisolid bolus swallow test. If results are positive, the diagnosis can be confirmed with a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. If esophageal dysphagia is suspected, patients typically undergo endoscopic esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Management of confirmed oropharyngeal dysphagia involves short-term compensation strategies, such as postural changes or food thickening, to minimize the risk of aspiration. This is followed by rehabilitation that may involve swallowing exercises with biofeedback or electrical stimulation of the swallowing muscles. Some patients may need enteral feeding. For esophageal dysphagia, choice of management depends on the etiology; it may include endoscopic dilation, myotomy, injection of onabotulinumtoxinA (formerly called botulinum toxin type A) for structural abnormalities, or topical steroid therapy for eosinophilic esophagitis.
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PMID:Common gastrointestinal symptoms: dysphagia. 2412 2

Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) comprise a common cause of medical consultation and are defined as a subjective sensation of difficulty or abnormality of swallowing. In the initial step, a clear differentiation of dysphagia from odynophagia and globus sensation for further diagnostic procedures is mandatory. The careful questioning of patients symptoms and complaints is often helpful for the differentiation of oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is mainly caused by neurological disorders (cerebral ischemia, Parkinson's disease, dementia) or local compression of malignancies, thyroid gland or lymph nodes. In contrast, stenosis of the tubular esophagus (peptic stricture, rings and webs, diverticula, malignancies, infections) can lead to esophageal dysphagia, mostly only after ingestion of solids. Esophageal dysphagia after ingestion of solids and liquids is often caused by motility disorders of the esophagus (achalasia, hypertensive or hypercontractile esophagus). Important diagnostic procedures comprise endoscopy, barium swallow and high-resolution manometry. Overlap syndromes are frequent and need to be supervised interdisciplinary. The diagnostic algorithm and interpretation of exam results is complex. If the results are ambiguous, a reevaluation and, when appropriate, repetition of diagnostics are recommended. Whereas oropharyngeal dysphagia is treated by neurologists or ENT physicians, diagnostic and treatment of esophageal dysphagia is a challenging role for gastroenterologists.
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PMID:[Dysphagia from a gastroenterologist's perspective]. 3032 71