MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Esophageal stricture

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Esophageal stricture - benign

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Schatzki ring - X-ray

Digestive system organs

Definition Return to top

Benign esophageal stricture is a narrowing of the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach) that causes swallowing difficulties.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Esophageal stricture can be caused by:

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), irritation caused by excess stomach acids
Prolonged use of a nasogastric (NG) tube while under medical care
Ingestion of corrosive substances
Viral or bacterial infections
Treatment of esophageal varices (dilated blood vessels)
Injuries caused by endoscopes (small cameras used during surgery or certain tests)

Symptoms Return to top

Signs and tests Return to top

A barium swallow shows narrowing of the esophagus.
An endoscopy shows narrowing of the esophagus.

Treatment Return to top

Dilation (stretching) of the esophagus is the preferred treatment. Repeated dilation may be necessary to prevent the stricture from returning.

Proton pump inhibitors (acid-blocking medicines) can keep a peptic stricture from returning. Surgical treatment is rarely necessary.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

The patient may develop the stricture again in the future.

Complications Return to top

Swallowing difficulties may keep the patient from getting enough fluids and nutrients. There is also an increased risk (with regurgitation) of having food, fluid, or vomit enter the lungs and cause choking or aspiration pneumonia.

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider if swallowing difficulty persists.

Prevention Return to top

Prevention is related to the causes. For example, use safety measures to avoid ingestion of corrosive substances. Keep dangerous products out of the reach of children. Persistent reflux disease should be evaluated by a physician.

Update Date: 7/16/2004

Updated by: Christian Stone, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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