Abstract
The best defined primary esophageal motility disorders, achalasia and diffuse esophageal spasm, are rare diseases that present with the dominant symptoms of dysphagia and chest pain. Achalasia is caused by autoimmune destruction of the myenteric plexus in the esophagus while the cause of diffuse esophageal spasm is unclear. Achalasia is best diagnosed with esophageal manometry and is best treated by disruption of the lower esophageal sphincter, either by surgical myotomy or pneumatic dilation. There are no treatments for diffuse esophageal spasm of established effectiveness.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Textbook of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology |
| Subtitle of host publication | Second Edition |
| Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
| Pages | 258-264 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| ISBN (Print) | 1405191821, 9781405191821 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 16 2012 |
Keywords
- Achalasia
- Diffuse esophageal spasm
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal manometry
- Esophagus
- Motility disorders
- Scleroderma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)