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

Achalasia has been purported to be a risk factor for the development of esophageal carcinoma. To test the validity of this association at the Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) and its major affiliate, the West Haven Veterans Administration Medical Center (WHVA), two approaches were employed: (1) a prospective study identifying 100 subjects with manometrically documented achalasia for the development of esophageal cancer; (2) a retrospective review of esophageal cancer patients admitted to the YNHH and the WHVA from 1971 through 1981 for any evidence of achalasia. No cases of esophageal carcinoma were identified in the 91 evaluable achalasics. No case of achalasia was found or even suggested in association with the 153 cases of esophageal cancer reviewed. Our findings do not substantiate the association of achalasia and esophageal carcinoma. The clinical implications of this conclusion on surveillance and follow-up of achalasia patients are discussed.
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PMID:Achalasia as a risk factor for esophageal carcinoma. A reappraisal. 649 28

In geographic areas where there is a high risk of esophageal cancer, analysis of cells obtained from the esophagus has been used effectively to detect early lesions. This has been demonstrated on a large scale in studies from China. Using abrasive balloon cytology techniques, 75% of the cancers detected were early lesions, where the 5-year survival after resection was in the range of 90%. Endoscopic followup studies indicate that dysplastic changes in the esophageal mucosa are a common precursor to malignancy. In many cases, the time course from dysplasia to carcinoma in situ to early invasive cancer may take place over many years, allowing a reasonable amount of time for screening. In low-incidence areas, such as the United States, most esophageal cancers are related to the excessive use of tobacco and alcohol. These factors are too common and the incidence of the disease too low, however, to justify screening on this basis. There are smaller groups at higher risk where selective screening by endoscopy with cytology and biopsy is recommended, usually every 1 to 3 years. These include patients with longstanding achalasia, lye strictures, and Plummer- Vinson syndrome. Patients with cancers of the head and neck region and patients with celiac disease may also be considered to be at increased risk. Tylosis is a rare inherited disease with a very high risk of esophageal cancer. There is an increased incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus with Barrett's epithelium, and once identified such patients should be kept under endoscopic surveillance. The finding of severe dysplasia in any of these groups would indicate a shorter screening interval. Most patients with symptoms referable to the esophagus are first tested by barium esophagram. If negative, with persistent symptoms or if a suspicious lesion is identified, endoscopy with cytology and biopsy is recommended. Staging of the cancer is based on the size of the cancer both longitudinally and circumferentially and the presence of extraesophageal spread. At the present time, CT is the best noninvasive method for judging the extent of the cancer. Performance and nutritional status are also determinants of prognosis and should be considered in planning treatment.
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PMID:Screening diagnosis and staging of esophageal cancer. 672 90

In a follow-up study of 147 patients with achalasia of the esophagus treated by myotomy, 146 patients were traced (58 female and 88 male patients aged 4 to 83 years; median 46 years). The living persons were contacted in writing or by telephone. The mean follow-up time after the operation was 23.2 years (range, six to 41 years). The cause of death was established for 71 patients. There were three postoperative deaths and two deaths following recurrence. In comparison with the Danish population, the 66 remaining patients were found to have a relatively higher cancer mortality (34.9% percent). Contrary to the expected less than one, ten of 23 patients who died of cancer had a malignant tumor in the esophagus. The mortality rate after 30 years was 66.1 percent, 11.9 percent of the deaths caused by esophageal cancer. It is concluded that there is a connection between achalasia and cancer of the esophagus that ought to be considered in the treatment and follow-up of patients with achalasia.
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PMID:[Does achalasia predispose to cancer of the esophagus?]. 818 95

From 1985 to 1995, 60 patients with a mean age of 52 +/- 12 years [24-78] underwent colon interposition for esophageal replacement. Indications were esophageal cancer (n = 37), benign stricture (n = 13), iatrogenic esophageal fistula (n = 5), achalasia with megaesophagus (n = 3), and necrosis of a previous substitute (n = 2). Colon interposition represented only 18.5% of all operations performed for oesophageal replacement during the same period. The colon was selected because of inadequate stomach in 33 cases (55%). Long-segment conduit based on the ascending branch of the left colonic artery was the preferred method and could be used in 52 patients (86.7%). The colon was placed in the esophageal bed in 38 patients (63.3%), substernally in 21 (35%), and subcutaneously in 1. Overall operative mortality and morbidity were 8.3% and 65% respectively. Five-year survival rate was 9% in the 37 patients with esophageal cancer. Seven patients (13.5%) required one or more dilatations of the esophagocolonic anastomosis. At last follow-up, 34 patients (65.4%) had no difficulty eating. Multivariate analysis identified the conduit position in the posterior mediastinum as an independent predictor of good functional result (p = 0.0018). We conclude that colon interposition for esophageal replacement provides satisfactory and durable function; however, early mortality and morbidity are substantial.
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PMID:[Technique and results of colonic esophagoplasties]. 876 61

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder characterized by lack of esophageal peristalsis and poor lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation. Clinically, achalasia manifests as progressive dysphagia to solids and liquids and mild weight loss. Predisposition to esophageal cancer is not prevalent, but certain tumors may mimic achalasia. The diagnosis of achalasia is relatively easy to make with a good history, radiography, and esophageal motility testing. The esophagogram reveals a typical bird-beak narrowing of the esophagogastric junction and esophageal dilation, the degree of which depends on the stage of the disease. Esophageal manometry reveals poor LES relaxation, aperistalsis, and often elevated intraesophageal pressure. Endoscopic examination is important to rule out malignancy as the cause of achalasia. The traditional treatment of achalasia is forceful dilation of the LES. Bougienage may be helpful in some cases. Pharmacological agents, such as nitroglycerin and calcium channel blockers, provide some relief by decreasing LES pressure. However, they are not a viable, long-term choice. Surgical myotomy offers slightly better results than pneumatic dilation, but it is accompanied by some increased gastroesophageal reflux. Laparoscopic and thoroscopic myotomy are in their infancy, and, if successful, they will make surgical treatment much more attractive. Intrasphincteric botulinum toxin injection is the newest form of therapy. Its safety and ease of administration are very encouraging, but long-term results are not available.
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PMID:Achalasia. 877 90

Retrospective analysis was carried out among 252 patients with esophageal achalasia (135 women, 117 men, mean age 41 years) who, in the years 1961-1992, underwent 333 Starck procedures. Mean period of follow-up was 11.5 years (range 6 months to 32 years). Evaluation of the procedure was based upon the analysis of actual symptoms and radiological and endoscopic examinations in a group of 247 patients (98%). 22 patients died; all except 1 of diseases unrelated to the esophagus. The data concerning the effectiveness of therapy refer to the remaining 225 patients. The first Starck procedure gave permanent and sufficient relief of symptoms in 140 patients (62.2%). Of the remaining patients, 62 persons underwent subsequent Starck procedures, the effectiveness of which was 64.9%. The total percentage of favorable results of the procedure was 84.4%. There was no fatal complication of the Starck procedure. One perforation of the esophagus, one aspiration pneumonia and 2 cases of incarceration of the Starck apparatus were observed. There was no case of esophageal cancer in the whole group. These results confirm that the Starck procedure is a safe and effective treatment for esophageal achalasia.
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PMID:Long-term results of treatment of esophageal achalasia using a Starck dilator. 891 98

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder of unknown etiology. Several studies suggest possible herpes or measles virus etiology, but results are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to test whether herpesvirus (HV), measles (MV), or human papilloma virus (HPV) sequences could be detected in myotomy specimens from a wide spectrum of achalasia patients, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Myotomy specimens from 13 achalasia patients, esophagectomy specimens from nine esophageal cancer patients, and autopsy specimens from six fetuses were studied with the PCR technique. Paired oligonucleotide primers of HV (HSV-1 and 2, CMV, EBV, VZV, and HHV-6), MV and HPV sequences and exon 3 of the HPRT gene were used for the PCR DNA amplification. Amplified products were resolved on agarose gels and stained with ethidium bromide. All specimens yielded the appropriate-sized products for exon 3 of the HPRT and viral controls. No amplified products were seen in the achalasia specimens or controls corresponding to any of the virus sequences tested. The absence of HV, MV, and HPV sequences suggests that these viruses are not associated with achalasia but does not exclude the possibility of a previously unidentified virus as a causal agent. Further studies aimed at identifying an unknown viral agent as a cause for achalasia are warranted.
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PMID:Achalasia is not associated with measles or known herpes and human papilloma viruses. 905 10

Esophageal achalasia (EA) is a rare disease in man and animals and there are many discussions on its higher risk of esophageal cancer. N-Amyl-N-methylnitrosamine (AMN) which specifically induces esophageal tumors in mice and rats was given to three mutant mouse strains, i.e. 101/N, STX/Le and BXH-8, which develop a high incidence of EA. The incidence of EA in 101/N, STX/Le, BXH-8 and normal C57BL/6J mice was 38.5% (110/286), 30.1% (43/143), 91.8% (190/207) and 0% (0/167), respectively. The average numbers of AMN-induced esophageal tumors in EA(+) were significantly higher than those of EA(-) in all of the 101/N, STX/Le and BXH-8 mice. Furthermore, significantly larger size tumors and invasive squamous cell carcinomas were found in EA(+) mice than in EA(-) mice. These results indicate the higher sensitivity of EA for both tumor induction and promotion, possibly due to the longer retention of AMN. In fact, relaxation of the lower esophagus by a smooth muscle relaxing calcium-channel blocker, nicardipine hydrochloride, significantly prevented the induction of esophageal tumors.
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PMID:High incidence of esophageal cancer in esophageal achalasia by the oral administration of N-amyl-N-methylnitrosamine and its prevention by nicardipine hydrochloride in mice. 961 58

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) of the esophagus has been used primarily in staging biopsy-proven cancers. Its use as a primary diagnostic modality for esophageal malignancy has not been previously described. We report our recent experience in four patients with dysphagia and endoscopic biopsies negative for malignancy, including one patient with clinical and manometric features suggestive of achalasia. In all cases, EUS revealed a large infiltrating tumor invading through the esophageal wall into the surrounding tissues, and in one case into the aorta. Computed tomography suggested the possibility of a tumor in only one of the cases. Two patients underwent esophagectomy and were found to have adenocarcinoma. Two patients underwent repeat biopsy with alternative aggressive biopsy techniques and were found to have squamous cell carcinoma. We conclude that EUS is useful in the diagnosis of esophageal cancer and should be performed in selected patients with esophageal strictures whose biopsies are negative for malignancy; i.e., those with suspicious endoscopic or radiographic appearance, atypical presentation (e.g., profound weight loss, short duration of symptoms, or advanced age), and failure to respond to treatment.
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PMID:Biopsy-negative malignant esophageal stricture: diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasound. 982 Apr 10

Although the prevalence of patients with achalasia developing an esophageal carcinoma is low the risk is nearly 140-fold; there is no difference in prognosis between patients with achalasia-carcinoma and those with esophageal cancer without achalasia. We propose a follow-up with biennial endoscopies after 15-20 years of known achalasia. This is accordance with a recent consensus conference, which accepted the recommendation of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy [3]. In doubtful findings we recommend brush cytologies and/or biopsies, especially if there should be a recurrence of "old symptoms" or the appearance of "new difficulties" which suggest the possibility of a malignant growth.
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PMID:[Achalasia and carcinoma of the esophagus: incidence, prevalence and prognosis]. 993 81


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