title: A local cluster of achalasia in a province of Crete.
abstract: Achalasia has a largely obscure aetiology and is uncommon in childhood. We report three cases of otherwise well children, residents of a small province of Crete, two of them female cousins. This cluster probably indicates an autosomal recessive trait of inheritance. All three children were surgically treated (Heller cardiomyotomy combined with Nissen fundoplication), with excellent results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galanakis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardikis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vlachakis
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kokori
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Charissis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sbyrakis
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D016896:Treatment Outcome