Noncardiac chest pain.
Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) affects approximately 1 quarter of the adult population in the United States. The pathophysiology of the disorder remains to be fully elucidated. Identified underlying mechanisms for esophageal pain include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal dysmotility, and visceral hypersensitivity. Aggressive antireflux treatment has been the main therapeutic strategy for GERD-related NCCP. NCCP patients with or without spastic esophageal motor disorders are responsive to pain modulators. The value of botulinum toxin injection, endoscopic treatment for GERD, and antireflux surgery in alleviating NCCP symptoms is limited.
Fass
Ronnie
R
The Neuroenteric Clinical Research Group, Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ 85723-0001, USA. Ronnie.Fass@va.gov
Navarro-Rodriguez
Tomás
T
D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D049630:Esophageal Sphincter, Lower / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology