Disorders of the Esophagus

Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction is a condition where the upper esophageal sphincter muscle does not appropriately relax to allow swallowed material to pass easily into the esophagus. Symptoms of cricopharyngeal dysfunction include a sensation of a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing, feeling as if food gets stuck in the throat, and occasionally pain with swallowing. Temporary treatments of cricopharyngeal dysfunction include dilating or stretching the muscle or injecting botulinum toxin into the muscle. Long-term treatments include cutting the cricopharyngeal muscle (cricopharyngeal myotomy) either [endoscopically] or [through an incision in the neck].

Esophageal Stenosis or stricture is an area of narrowing in the esophagus which can cause difficulty swallowing and even result in food or pills getting stuck in the esophagus. Esophageal stenosis or stricture is usually the result of scarring after an injury which causes inflammation. Examples of such injuries include radiation treatment, surgery, or chemical injury.  Often times the area of narrowing can be treated with dilation procedures to improve symptoms.

Patients who have undergone radiation treatment to the head and neck may develop difficulty swallowing from tissue changes caused by the radiation.  These changes include dry mouth, scarring with narrowing of the throat, and scarring with weakness of the muscles used for swallowing.  Narrowing of the throat is sometimes treated with surgery to stretch open the throat while many of the other radiation-related causes of dysphagia are treated with swallowing therapy with one of our speech language pathologists.

A Zenker’s Diverticulum is an outpouching of the in the throat just above an abnormally tight upper esophageal sphincter.  Patients classically present with regurgitation of swallowed material from the pouch.  They may also have generalized difficulty swallowing and even aspiration.  Pills may get stuck in the pouch.  Treatment options include [endoscopic and open surgical treatment].