Achalasia overview
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Achalasia Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Achalasia overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Achalasia overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder.[1] In this disorder, the smooth muscle layer of the esophagus has impaired peristalsis (muscular ability to move food down the esophagus), and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) fails to relax properly in response to swallowing due to absent enteric neurons.[2] The most common form is idiopathic achalasia, which has no known underlying cause. However, a small proportion occurs as a secondary result of other conditions, such as esophageal cancer or (in South America) Chagas disease.