Complete esophageal obstruction from cricopharyngeal achalasia.
A patient with complete esophageal obstruction from cricopharyngeal achalasia in whom adequate cricopharyngeal myotomy failed to alleviate the dysphagia is described. The importance of pre-operative radiological evaluation of patients with neurologically related dysphagia is discussed, specifically, the degree of obstruction, range of tongue movement, and presence of aspiration. These factors have a predictive value in assessing the benefits of planned cricopharyngeal myotomy.
D000328:Adult; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007817:Laryngeal Cartilages / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D014059:Tongue