An esophageal stricture is a narrowing or closure of the esophagus, the tube that transfers food between the mouth and the stomach. Chronic heartburn is a frequent cause of strictures. In chronic heartburn, the acid from the reflux inflames the tissue of the lower esophagus. That tissue then scars, which narrows the opening of the esophagus. Generally, strictures can be treated by dilating, or opening, the stricture.In gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), food and gastric acid splash out of the stomach and back into the esophagus. This corrosive substance inflames and damages the lining of the esophagus. When this happens frequently, the body may respond by building up scar tissue at the damaged area. The scar tissue is bulky and stiff, and results in a narrowed opening to the stomach, called a stricture. The esophagus, usually the diameter of a quarter or larger, may be reduced to the diameter of a pencil or smaller. Food and liquid are able to reach the stomach only with difficulty.
Acute obstructions (complete closures of the esophagus) are caused when a piece of food lodges in the esophageal stricture and obstructs the passageway. It does not obstruct the airway, so breathing is not affected. Symptoms may include chest pain and the inability to swallow saliva.
Strictures may be diagnosed with endoscopy, a method of viewing the inside of the esophagus, or with a barium swallow study, in which a patient swallows a barium containing drink, and this drink is visualized via x-rays as it travels through the esophagus and into the stomach.
