Esophageal motility disorder
An esophageal motility disorder (EMD) is any medical disorder causing difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation of food and a spasm-type pain which can be brought on by an allergic reaction to certain foods. The most prominent one is dysphagia.
| Esophageal motility disorder | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Esophageal dysmotility (ED) |
| Diagnostic method | Esophageal motility study Functional Lumen Imaging Probe |
| Treatment | treatment depends on cause |
Esophageal motility disorder may be a result of CREST syndrome, referring to the five main features: calcinosis, Raynaud syndrome, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly and telangiectasia.[1]
Symptoms
There are contractions along the lower esophagus when this condition happens. These contractions prevent the passage of food.[2]
Types
Dysphagia could be for solid only or for solid and liquid.
- Solid dysphagia is due to obstruction such as esophageal cancer, esophageal web, or stricture.
- Solid plus liquid dysphagia is due to esophageal motility disorder (or dysmotility) either in the upper esophagus (myasthenia gravis, stroke, or dermatomyositis) or lower esophagus (systemic sclerosis, CREST syndrome, or achalasia).
If there is a food allergy causing an EMD, then physicians recommend an elimination diet. If this fails, then physicians will prescribe special types of Medication to help resolve this problem.
See also
- Esophageal disease
- Esophageal motility study
- Esophageal spasm
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- Nutcracker esophagus
- Systemic sclerosis
- Esophageal food bolus obstruction
- Dysphagia
References
- Winterbauer RH (1964). "Multiple telangiectasia, Raynaud's phenomenon, sclerodactyly, and subcutaneous calcinosis: a syndrome mimicking hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia". Bulletin of the Johns Hopkins Hospital 114: 31–83. PMID 14171636.
- Medicine, UW. "Esophageal Motility Disorders - UW Medicine". www.uwmedicine.org. Archived from the original on 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2015-01-10.