Dysphagia

Dysphagia may be oropharyngeal or esophageal. Evaluation is described, including a thorough dysphagia history of associated painful swallowing, location, solids versus liquids, intermittent versus progressive, acute versus gradual onset, and associated symptoms such as weight loss. Physical examination and key diagnostic tests are also reviewed. The evidence-based management of various etiologies of esophageal dysphagia are summarized. Motor disorders described include achalasia, the other primary esophageal motility disorders, and the most common secondary esophageal motility disorders. Esophageal diverticulae are also reviewed in this section. Mechanical esophageal obstruction is presented, including discussions of esophageal webs, rings, peptic stricture, and cancer. Important inflammatory and infectious causes of dysphagia are described, including caustic ingestion, eosinophilic esophagitis, and esophageal infections. The oral phases of liquid and solid swallowing are presented, as are the pharyngeal and esophageal phases of swallowing. Figures show the results of several diagnostic tests and other conditions, including pharyngeoesophageal diverticulum, giant epiphrenic diverti