Benign Esophageal Stricture Overview
Learn About Benign Esophageal Stricture
Benign esophageal stricture is a narrowing of the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). It causes swallowing difficulties.
Benign means that it is not caused by cancer of the esophagus.
Esophageal stricture can be caused by:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Eosinophilic esophagitis.
- Injuries caused by an endoscope or treatments through an endoscope.
- Long-term use of a nasogastric (NG) tube (tube through the nose into the stomach).
- Swallowing substances that harm the lining of the esophagus. These may include household cleaners, lye, disc batteries, or battery acid.
- Treatment of esophageal varices.
Symptoms may include:
- Trouble swallowing
- Pain with swallowing
- Unintentional weight loss
- Regurgitation of food
Dilation (stretching) of the esophagus using a thin cylinder or balloon that is inserted through an endoscope is the main treatment for acid reflux-related strictures. You may need to have this treatment repeated after a period of time to prevent the stricture from narrowing again.
Proton pump inhibitors (acid-blocking medicines) can keep an acid reflux-related stricture from returning. Surgery is rarely needed.
If you have eosinophilic esophagitis, you may need to take medicines or make changes to your diet to reduce the inflammation. In some cases, dilation is done.
Zhining Fan practices in Nanjing, China. Fan is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Benign Esophageal Stricture. Their top areas of expertise are Benign Esophageal Stricture, Choledocholithiasis, Esophageal Cancer, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.
Peter Siersema practices in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Mr. Siersema is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Benign Esophageal Stricture. His top areas of expertise are Barrett Esophagus, Benign Esophageal Stricture, Esophageal Cancer, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.
Mayo Clinic
Jeffrey Alexander is a Gastroenterologist in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Alexander has been practicing medicine for over 43 years and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Benign Esophageal Stricture. His top areas of expertise are Esophagitis, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Benign Esophageal Stricture, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy. Dr. Alexander is currently accepting new patients.
The stricture may come back in the future. This may require a repeat dilation.
Swallowing problems may keep you from getting enough fluids and nutrients. Solid food, especially meat, can get stuck above the stricture. If this happens, endoscopy would be needed to remove the lodged food.
There is also a higher risk of having food, fluid, or vomit enter the lungs with regurgitation. This can cause choking or aspiration pneumonia.
Contact your health care provider if you have swallowing problems that do not go away.
Use safety measures to avoid swallowing substances that can harm your esophagus. Keep dangerous chemicals out of the reach of children. See your provider if you have GERD.
Summary: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the ProTractX3™ DCB for the treatment of benign esophageal strictures.
Summary: The goal of this study is to find out if using the BougieCap device is a safe and effective way to stretch narrow areas in the esophagus (food pipe) in children. The main questions this study wants to answer are: * Does the BougieCap work well to treat narrow areas in the esophagus comparing with other methods to widen these narrow areas? * Is BougieCap easy to use and does it cause fewer problems...
Published Date: October 30, 2024
Published By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Gastroenterologist, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Falk GW, Katzka DA. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 124.
Rajala MW, Kochman ML. Benign esophageal strictures. In: Chandrasekhara V, Elmunzer J, Khashab MA, Muthusamy VR, eds. Clinical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 21.
Richter JE, Vaezi MF. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 46.