The pain usually follows a meal, or may be provoked by the act of swallowing. There are no physical, lab, or x-ray findings that are typical for esophageal pain. Therapeutic trials may only confuse the physician who is considering an esophageal cause for chest pain. Most patients with esophageal spasm will have relief with nitroglycerin. But the same number of cardiac patients will claim pain relief, probably due to placebo effect or due to the natural course of the pain.
Some patients present with a clear history of past attacks proven due to esophageal disease.
However, the diagnosis of new-onset esophageal pain should be entertained only after angina and infarction are ruled out. No tests are available in the acute setting that can reliably prove esophageal pain. Back to Index. Back to Main Manual Index. Mad Scientist Software, Alpine UT, 1996.