eMedicine Specialties > Gastroenterology > Esophagus

Esophageal Motility Disorders: Multimedia

Author: Eric A Gaumnitz, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine; Program Director, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Director, Motility Unit, University of Wisconsin Hospitals
Coauthor(s): Abdullah Fayyad, MD, MBBS, Gastroenterology Staff, Private Practice, Digestive and Liver Disease Consultants
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 29, 2009

Multimedia

The typical picture of achalasia. Note the "bird-...
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Media file 1: The typical picture of achalasia. Note the "bird-beak" appearance of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), with a dilated, barium-filled esophagus proximal to it. Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.
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The typical picture of achalasia. Note the "bird-...

The typical picture of achalasia. Note the "bird-beak" appearance of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), with a dilated, barium-filled esophagus proximal to it. Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.

The response to amyl nitrate (a smooth muscle rel...
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Media file 2: The response to amyl nitrate (a smooth muscle relaxant), with partial relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allows some barium to pass through it into the stomach. Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.
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The response to amyl nitrate (a smooth muscle rel...

The response to amyl nitrate (a smooth muscle relaxant), with partial relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allows some barium to pass through it into the stomach. Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.

Esophagram of a 65-year-old man with rapid-onset ...
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Media file 3: Esophagram of a 65-year-old man with rapid-onset dysphagia over 1 year. Although esophagram shows a typical picture of achalasia, this patient had adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. This is an example of pseudoachalasia, which reinforces the absolute need for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in patients with radiologic diagnosis of achalasia. Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.
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Esophagram of a 65-year-old man with rapid-onset ...

Esophagram of a 65-year-old man with rapid-onset dysphagia over 1 year. Although esophagram shows a typical picture of achalasia, this patient had adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. This is an example of pseudoachalasia, which reinforces the absolute need for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in patients with radiologic diagnosis of achalasia. Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.

An esophagram demonstrating the corkscrew esophag...
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Media file 4: An esophagram demonstrating the corkscrew esophagus picture observed in a patient with manometry confirmed findings of diffuse esophageal spasm (DES). Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.
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An esophagram demonstrating the corkscrew esophag...

An esophagram demonstrating the corkscrew esophagus picture observed in a patient with manometry confirmed findings of diffuse esophageal spasm (DES). Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.

Response to amyl nitrate, with disappearance of t...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 5: Response to amyl nitrate, with disappearance of the spasm on esophagram. Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.
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Response to amyl nitrate, with disappearance of t...

Response to amyl nitrate, with disappearance of the spasm on esophagram. Image courtesy of Andrew Taylor, MD, Professor, Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.

Normal manometry results show normal esophageal b...
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Media file 6: Normal manometry results show normal esophageal body peristalsis with normal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and relaxation. The LES pressure tracing is at the level of the sleeve (tracing 6).
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Normal manometry results show normal esophageal b...

Normal manometry results show normal esophageal body peristalsis with normal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and relaxation. The LES pressure tracing is at the level of the sleeve (tracing 6).

Achalasia manometry picture Note the nonrelaxing ...
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Media file 7: Achalasia manometry picture Note the nonrelaxing lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the absence of esophageal body peristalsis. The LES pressure tracing is at the level of the sleeve (tracing 6).
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Achalasia manometry picture Note the nonrelaxing ...

Achalasia manometry picture Note the nonrelaxing lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the absence of esophageal body peristalsis. The LES pressure tracing is at the level of the sleeve (tracing 6).

Manometry demonstrates diffuse esophageal spasm w...
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Media file 8: Manometry demonstrates diffuse esophageal spasm with simultaneous contractions of the esophagus observed throughout the tracing. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure tracing is at the level of the sleeve (tracing 6).
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Manometry demonstrates diffuse esophageal spasm w...

Manometry demonstrates diffuse esophageal spasm with simultaneous contractions of the esophagus observed throughout the tracing. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure tracing is at the level of the sleeve (tracing 6).

More on Esophageal Motility Disorders

Overview: Esophageal Motility Disorders
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Esophageal Motility Disorders
Treatment & Medication: Esophageal Motility Disorders
Follow-up: Esophageal Motility Disorders
Multimedia: Esophageal Motility Disorders
References
Further Reading
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References

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Further Reading

Related eMedicine Topics

Clinical Trials
 National Guideline Clearinghouse

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Keywords

esophageal motility disorders, esophageal motility dysfunction, esophagus dysfunction, esophageal peristalsis dysfunction, esophageal peristalsis, achalasia, dysphagia, gastrointestinal motility, primary spastic esophageal motility disorders, diffuse esophageal spasm, DES, nutcracker esophagus, hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter, hypertensive LES, presbyesophagus, lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction, scleroderma esophagus, spastic motility disorder of the esophageal body, Heller myotomy, esophagectomy

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Eric A Gaumnitz, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine; Program Director, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Director, Motility Unit, University of Wisconsin Hospitals
Eric A Gaumnitz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association, American Motility Society, and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Abdullah Fayyad, MD, MBBS, Gastroenterology Staff, Private Practice, Digestive and Liver Disease Consultants
Abdullah Fayyad, MD, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Ronnie Fass, MD, Director of GI Motility Laboratory, Tucson VA Medical Center, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Arizona School of Medicine
Ronnie Fass, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Gastroenterological Association, American Motility Society, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and Israel Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Simmy Bank, MD, Chair, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Long Island Jewish Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Society of General Internal Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Julian Katz, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania
Julian Katz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Law Medicine and Ethics, American Trauma Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Physicians for Social Responsibility
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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