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Information

Food sticks in the mid or lower sternal area; can be associated with regurgitation, aspiration, odynophagia. Causes include the following: for solids only, lower esophageal ring (Schatzki's ring—symptoms are usually intermittent), peptic stricture (heartburn accompanies this), carcinoma, lye stricture; for solids and liquids, diffuse esophageal spasm (occurs with chest pain and is intermittent), scleroderma (progressive and occurs with heartburn), achalasia (progressive and occurs without heartburn).

Outline

Section 3. Common Patient Presentations