Diffuse esophageal spasm: CT findings in seven patients

AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology
Michael F GoldbergDrew A Torigian

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and appearance of esophageal wall thickening on CT scans in a series of patients with findings of diffuse esophageal spasm on barium studies. CT revealed marked esophageal wall thickening in seven (21%) of 33 patients who had findings of diffuse esophageal spasm on barium studies. CT showed significantly greater esophageal wall thickening in the lower thoracic esophagus 5 cm above the gastroesophageal junction than in the upper thoracic esophagus at the level of the aortic arch or in the midthoracic esophagus at the level of the carina (p < 0.01). This esophageal wall thickening corresponded to the presence of multiple strong nonperistaltic contractions in the lower thoracic esophagus on barium studies. Our findings suggest that diffuse esophageal spasm should be included in the differential diagnosis when CT shows smooth circumferential wall thickening in the lower half of the thoracic esophagus, particularly in elderly patients with dysphagia or chest pain.

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Citations

Jan 5, 2012·Dysphagia·Sabine Roman, Peter J Kahrilas
Mar 5, 2013·Gastroenterology Clinics of North America·Sabine Roman, Peter J Kahrilas
May 13, 2010·Diseases of the Esophagus : Official Journal of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus·M BashashatiM Storr
Nov 30, 2014·The American Journal of Medicine·Takeshi KondoMasatomi Ikusaka
Aug 7, 2018·Current Gastroenterology Reports·Michelle P Clermont, Nitin K Ahuja
Sep 23, 2020·Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology·Galen LeungEdward Cheng
May 22, 2019·Medical Principles and Practice : International Journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre·Sanja JovanovicPredrag Pesko

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