title: A rare manifestation of achalasia: huge esophagus causing tracheal compression and progressive dyspnea.
abstract: Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by the absence of primary peristalsis and a failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, resulting in a dilated esophagus. Dysphagia is the classic and most common symptom. Respiratory obstruction due to tracheal compression caused by a massively dilated esophagus is a very rare but fatal complication. Herein, we report a case of a patient with long-standing achalasia who had tracheal compression secondary to a markedly dilated, giant esophagus. These findings are documented with CT scans. His symptoms regressed after a Heller myotomy and fundoplication operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sifa Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Genc
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sifa Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aynur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solak
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilhami
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Solak
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sifa Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serkan Gur
keywords: Achalasia; computed tomography; dyspnea; esophageal expansion; progressive