A report on Dysphagia

The digestive tract, with the esophagus marked in red

Difficulty in swallowing.

- Dysphagia
The digestive tract, with the esophagus marked in red

27 related topics with Alpha

Overall
The digestive tract, with the esophagus marked in red

Esophagus

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Organ in vertebrates through which food passes, aided by peristaltic contractions, from the pharynx to the stomach.

Organ in vertebrates through which food passes, aided by peristaltic contractions, from the pharynx to the stomach.

The digestive tract, with the esophagus marked in red
The esophagus is constricted in three places.
A mass seen during an endoscopy and an ultrasound of the mass conducted during the endoscopy session.

Diseases may cause difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), painful swallowing (odynophagia), chest pain, or cause no symptoms at all.

A chest X-ray showing achalasia ( arrows point to the outline of the massively dilated esophagus )

Esophageal achalasia

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Failure of smooth muscle fibers to relax, which can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to remain closed.

Failure of smooth muscle fibers to relax, which can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to remain closed.

A chest X-ray showing achalasia ( arrows point to the outline of the massively dilated esophagus )
Transhiatal oesophagectomy specimen from a patient suffering from late-stage achalasia. Diverticulum at the left lower end of the oesophagus.
An axial CT image showing marked dilatation of the esophagus in a person with achalasia.
"Bird's beak" appearance and "megaesophagus", typical in achalasia.
Schematic of manometry in achalasia showing aperistaltic contractions, increased intraesophageal pressure, and failure of relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.
Image of a stomach which has undergone Fundoplomy

Achalasia is characterized by difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation, and sometimes chest pain.

Angular stomatitis

Plummer–Vinson syndrome

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Angular stomatitis
Upright double contrast image showing jet phenomennna from cervical esophageal web.
Right posterior oblique prone single contrast flouroscopic last image hold image showing circumferential thin cervical esophageal web.
Ascorbic-acid

Plummer–Vinson syndrome is a rare disease characterized by difficulty swallowing, iron-deficiency anemia, glossitis, cheilosis and esophageal webs.

Microscopic image of aspiration pneumonia in an elderly person with a neurologic illness. Note foreign-body giant cell reaction.

Aspiration pneumonia

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Type of lung infection that is due to a relatively large amount of material from the stomach or mouth entering the lungs.

Type of lung infection that is due to a relatively large amount of material from the stomach or mouth entering the lungs.

Microscopic image of aspiration pneumonia in an elderly person with a neurologic illness. Note foreign-body giant cell reaction.
Aspiration pneumonia in a ventilated person with a central line and nasogastric tube

Risk factors include decreased level of consciousness, problems with swallowing, alcoholism, tube feeding, and poor oral health.

Endoscopic image of an esophageal adenocarcinoma

Esophageal cancer

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Cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach.

Cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach.

Endoscopic image of an esophageal adenocarcinoma
Esophageal cancer (lower part) as a result of Barrettʼs esophagus
Esophageal cancer as shown by a filling defect during an upper GI series
Esophageal stent for esophageal cancer
Esophageal stent for esophageal cancer
Before and after a total esophagectomy
Typical scar lines after the two main methods of surgery
Death from esophageal cancer per million persons in 2012
Endoscopic image of Barrett esophagus – a frequent precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma
Endoscopy and radial endoscopic ultrasound images of a submucosal tumor in the central portion of the esophagus
Contrast CT scan showing an esophageal tumor (axial view)
Contrast CT scan showing an esophageal tumor (coronal view)
Esophageal cancer
Micrograph showing histopathological appearance of an esophageal adenocarcinoma (dark blue – upper-left of image) and normal squamous epithelium (upper-right of image) at H&E staining
T1, T2, and T3 stages of esophageal cancer
Stage T4 esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer with spread to lymph nodes
Internal radiotherapy for esophageal cancer
Self-expandable metallic stents are sometimes used for palliative care

Symptoms often include difficulty in swallowing and weight loss.

Sagittal view of mouth and pharynx

Swallowing

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Process in the human or animal body that allows for a substance to pass from the mouth, to the pharynx, and into the esophagus, while shutting the epiglottis.

Process in the human or animal body that allows for a substance to pass from the mouth, to the pharynx, and into the esophagus, while shutting the epiglottis.

Sagittal view of mouth and pharynx
A pelican swallowing a fish

However, from the viewpoints of physiology, of speech–language pathology, and of health care for people with difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), it is an interesting topic with extensive scientific literature.

Odynophagia

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Pain when swallowing.

Pain when swallowing.

The pain may be felt in the mouth or throat and can occur with or without difficulty swallowing.

Endoscopic image of a non-cancerous peptic stricture, or narrowing of the esophagus, near the junction with the stomach. This is a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, and can be a cause of dysphagia. The stricture is about 3 to 5 mm in diameter. The blood that is visible is from the endoscope bumping into the stricture.

Esophageal dysphagia

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Endoscopic image of a non-cancerous peptic stricture, or narrowing of the esophagus, near the junction with the stomach. This is a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, and can be a cause of dysphagia. The stricture is about 3 to 5 mm in diameter. The blood that is visible is from the endoscope bumping into the stricture.

Esophageal dysphagia is a form of dysphagia where the underlying cause arises from the body of the esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter, or cardia of the stomach, usually due to mechanical causes or motility problems.

Phagophobia

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Phagophobia is a psychogenic dysphagia, a fear of swallowing.

Globus pharyngis

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Persistent but painless sensation of having a pill, food bolus, or some other sort of obstruction in the throat when there is none.

Persistent but painless sensation of having a pill, food bolus, or some other sort of obstruction in the throat when there is none.

Swallowing is typically performed normally, so it is not a true case of dysphagia, but it can become quite irritating.