Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-9-22
pubmed:abstractText
The nutcracker esophagus, a primary motor disorder, is frequently associated with noncardiac chest pain. However, there are no data on whether its diagnosis, as in other esophageal motility disorders, is delayed. Since the disorder is frequently heralded by alarming symptoms such as chest pain and dysphagia, diagnosis should be made as soon as possible. In this study we assessed the diagnostic delay, if any, in patients with the nutcracker esophagus. Moreover, we were interested in whether the abnormalities described in the distal esophagus could also involve the entire viscus. Fifty-four subjects (age range 23-78 yr) with the nutcracker esophagus were assessed for clinical and manometric variables as an overall group and after dividing them into subgroups according to their symptoms. The manometric variables were compared with those obtained in 61 controls (age range 21-67 yr). Overall, a diagnosis of nutcracker esophagus was made after an average period of 36 +/- 6 months, and surprisingly, this was not different in the various subgroups complaining of either chest pain, dysphagia, or both. Analysis of manometric variables showed that the mean amplitude of contractions was significantly higher in the patients' group at all esophageal body levels, even in the proximal portions. Again, there were no significant differences among the subgroups of nutcracker esophagus with respect to the symptoms. Notwithstanding the presence of alarming symptoms, such as chest pain and dysphagia, the nutcracker esophagus is diagnosed on average after 3 years from the onset of symptoms. Manometric assessment seems to confirm that this entity may indeed represent a primary esophageal motor disorder. The major dysfunction is due to an abnormal increase of contraction amplitude of the entire esophageal body.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
D
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0179-051X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
13
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
213-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
The nutcracker esophagus: a late diagnostic yield notwithstanding chest pain and dysphagia.
pubmed:affiliation
Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory, GI and Hepatology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia School of Medicine, Perugia, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article