Esophageal stricture
Classification and external resources
Endoscopic image of a benign peptic stricture
ICD-10	K22.2
ICD-9	530.3
DiseasesDB	31502
MedlinePlus	000207
eMedicine	med/744
MeSH	D004940

Benign esophageal stricture is a narrowing or tightening of the esophagus that causes swallowing difficulties.

Contents 1 Causes 2 Diagnosis 3 Incidence/prevalence 4 Symptoms 5 Treatment 6 Prevention 7 References 8 See also 9 External links

[edit] Causes

It can be caused by or associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), dysfunctional lower esophageal sphincter, disordered motility, or a hiatal hernia. Strictures can form after esophageal surgery and other treatments such as laser therapy or photodynamic therapy. While the area heals a scar forms, causing the tissue to pull and tighten which leads to difficulty in swallowing.^[1]

[edit] Diagnosis

It can be diagnosed with an X-Ray while the patient swallows barium (called a barium study of the esophagus), by a computerized tomography scan (an X-Ray that can take pictures of the esophagus), a biopsy, to take a sample of tissue to check for esophageal cancer^[2] or by an endoscopy (in which a scope is passed into the esophagus).

[edit] Incidence/prevalence

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects approximately 40% of adults. Strictures occur in 7 to 23% of patients with GERD who are untreated.^[3]

[edit] Symptoms

Symptoms of esophageal strictures include heartburn, bitter or acid taste in your mouth, black and tarry bowel movements, choking, coughing, shortness of breath, frequent burping or hiccups, pain or trouble swallowing, throwing up blood, or weight loss.^[4]

[edit] Treatment

If it is caused by esophagitis, then it is treated by treating the infection (typically with antibiotics). In order to open the stricture, a surgeon can insert a bougie, a weighted tube used to dilate the constricted areas in the esophagus.^[5] It can also be treated during an endoscopy with a special balloon that inflates in the esophagus (called "Dilation of the stricture"), or with other medications. For example, an H2 blocker medicine (e.g., ranitidine) or a proton-pump inhibitor (e.g., omeprazole) can treat underlying acid reflux disease.

[edit] Prevention

In order to try and avoid strictures, one should eat solid foods which naturally stretch the esophagus. However, one can still develop a stricture even if they do eat solid foods.^[6]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Esophageal diseases
• Esophageal spasm
• Esophageal cancer
• Esophagitis

[edit] External links

• MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Esophageal Stricture
• eMedicine page
• eCureMe page

This disease article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

v • d • e Digestive system · Digestive disease · Gastroenterology (primarily K20–K93, 530–579) Upper GI tract Esophagus Esophagitis (Candidal) · rupture (Boerhaave syndrome, Mallory-Weiss syndrome) · UES (Zenker's diverticulum) · LES (Barrett's esophagus) · Esophageal motility disorder (Nutcracker esophagus, Achalasia, Diffuse esophageal spasm, GERD) · Esophageal stricture · Megaesophagus Stomach Gastritis (Atrophic, Ménétrier's disease, Gastroenteritis) · Peptic (gastric) ulcer (Cushing ulcer, Dieulafoy's lesion) · Dyspepsia · Pyloric stenosis · Achlorhydria · Gastroparesis · Gastroptosis · Portal hypertensive gastropathy · Gastric antral vascular ectasia · Gastric dumping syndrome · Gastric volvulus Lower GI tract: Intestinal/ enteropathy Small intestine/ (duodenum/jejunum/ileum) Enteritis (Duodenitis, Jejunitis, Ileitis) — Peptic (duodenal) ulcer (Curling's ulcer) — Malabsorption: Coeliac · Tropical sprue · Blind loop syndrome · Whipple's · Short bowel syndrome · Steatorrhea · Milroy disease Large intestine (appendix/colon) Appendicitis · Colitis (Pseudomembranous, Ulcerative, Ischemic, Microscopic, Collagenous, Lymphocytic) · Functional colonic disease (IBS, Intestinal pseudoobstruction/Ogilvie syndrome) — Megacolon/Toxic megacolon · Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis Large and/or small Enterocolitis (Necrotizing) · IBD (Crohn's disease) — vascular: Abdominal angina · Mesenteric ischemia · Angiodysplasia — Bowel obstruction: Ileus · Intussusception · Volvulus · Fecal impaction — Constipation · Diarrhea (Infectious) Rectum Proctitis (Radiation proctitis) · Proctalgia fugax · Rectal prolapse Anus Anal fissure/Anal fistula · Anal abscess  · Anal dysplasia  · Pruritus ani GI bleeding/BIS Upper (Hematemesis, Melena) · Lower (Hematochezia) Accessory Liver Hepatitis (Viral hepatitis, Autoimmune hepatitis, Alcoholic hepatitis) · Cirrhosis (PBC) · Fatty liver (NASH) · vascular (Hepatic veno-occlusive disease, Portal hypertension, Nutmeg liver) · Alcoholic liver disease · Liver failure (Hepatic encephalopathy, Acute liver failure) · Liver abscess (Pyogenic, Amoebic) · Hepatorenal syndrome · Peliosis hepatis Gallbladder Cholecystitis · Gallstones/Cholecystolithiasis · Cholesterolosis · Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses · Postcholecystectomy syndrome · Porcelain gallbladder Bile duct/ other biliary tree Cholangitis (PSC, Secondary sclerosing cholangitis, Ascending) · Cholestasis/Mirizzi's syndrome · Biliary fistula · Haemobilia · Gallstones/Cholelithiasis common bile duct (Choledocholithiasis, Biliary dyskinesia) · Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction Pancreatic Pancreatitis (Acute, Chronic, Hereditary) · Pancreatic pseudocyst · Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency · Pancreatic fistula Abdominopelvic Hernia Diaphragmatic: Congenital diaphragmatic · Hiatus — Abdominal hernia: Inguinal (Indirect, Direct) · Umbilical · Incisional · Femoral — Obturator hernia · Spigelian hernia · Internal hernia Peritoneal Peritonitis (Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis) · Hemoperitoneum · Pneumoperitoneum digestive system navs: anat of tract,glands,perit,diaphragm/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/congen of d+w/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc