Here, part of the stomach slips upwards above the diaphragm into the chest cavity. Rarely, large hernias cause chest pains or anemia. Here, the normal lining of the lower esophagus is replaced by a red lining that looks microscopically like the lining of the intestine. In this disorder, there is an increased risk of esophageal cancer. The usual symptom is an increasing difficulty swallowing over a few weeks with food and later, fluids sticking in the chest, often with weight loss, chest pain, or bleeding.
Diagnosis is by endoscopy and biopsy.
When surgical removal of the tumor can be done, this is the most effective form of treatment. Achalasia Difficulty swallowing both solids and liquids and regurgitation of non-sour material with weight loss are the usual symptoms of this motility disorder. The normal coordination of esophagus and sphincter esophageal muscle contractions is lost. Treatment is by balloon dilatation, botulinum toxin injection into the lower sphincter, or laparoscopic surgery. The esophagus is the most frequent cause of chest pain in individuals who have had negative investigations for heart disease.