REGURGITATION, ESOPHAGEAL

REGURGITATION, ESOPHAGEAL: Excerpt from Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs

Ask the Following Questions:

1. Is there dysphagia? The presence of difficulty swallowing should suggest carcinoma of the esophagus, esophageal strictures, esophageal diverticulum, achalasia, aortic aneurysm, and other mediastinal masses.
2. Is there significant weight loss? The presence of significant weight loss suggests carcinoma of the esophagus and esophageal stricture. It is also found in the late stages of achalasia.
3. Is there heartburn? Several of the conditions associated with esophageal regurgitation may be accompanied by heartburn, but reflux esophagitis and gastric ulcer are the most common.

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

Most disorders will be diagnosed by an upper GI series with an esophagogram and esophagoscopy with a biopsy. A Bernstein test, esophageal pH monitoring, and esophageal manometry may be useful in diagnosing reflux esophagitis. A CBC, serum iron, ferritin, and iron-binding capacity will help diagnose Plummer-Vinson syndrome. An ANA titer and skin biopsy will help diagnose scleroderma. A CT scan of the mediastinum will help diagnose most mediastinal masses, and angiography will be useful in diagnosing an aortic aneurysm.

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
• Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
• Year of Publication: 2003
• Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

More About Achalasia

• Back to disease: Achalasia: Introduction
• Next Book Extract About Achalasia: Esophageal diverticula (Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
• More Book Extracts: All Online Books for Achalasia

More Medical Textbooks Online about Achalasia

Review other book chapters online related to Achalasia:

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

More About This Book: Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs Authors: R. Douglas Collins Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Esophageal diverticula (Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
• Esophageal diverticula (Handbook of Diseases)
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis (The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
• Surveys relating to Achalasia
• Ask Question about Achalasia

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City