Schatzki Ring
What is a Schatzki ring?
Many years ago, Schatzki described a smooth,
benign, circumferential, and narrow ring of tissue in the lower end of
the esophagus (the food pipe that connects the mouth to the
stomach). These rings are located just above the junction between the
esophagus and the stomach. These rings are very common, occurring in more
than 6% of the population. The cause of these rings is not clearly
understood, while some doctors believe they are caused by long term
damage from stomach acid reflux. For further reading on acid reflux
and esophagitis, please read our article on Gastroesophageal Reflux.
What are symptoms of a Schatzki Ring?
The majority of these rings cause no symptoms, and patients are unaware of
their presence. When the opening of the esophagus becomes smaller as
the diameter of these rings shrink, solid, poorly chewed food (such
as steak, turkey, frankfurter) can get caught at the level of the
ring. The patient then experiences chest pain, or sticking sensation in
the chest with swallowing (referred to as dysphagia). If the food bolus
passes into the stomach, these symptoms subside quickly and the
patient can resume eating. If the food bolus dose not pass into the
stomach, some patients have to regurgitate the obstructed bolus of
food before they can resume eating. Rarely, the bolus becomes
impacted (the food bolus cannot pass nor can it be regurgitated).
These patients experience continued chest pain and difficulty
handling saliva and secretions. A flexible endoscope has to be
inserted through the mouth into the esophagus to extract the impacted
food to relieve obstruction.
How is a Schatzki Ring diagnosed?
The diagnosis of Schatzki ring can usually be made by barium x-
ray examination of the esophagus. Please read our article on Upper GI Series. In
patients with symptoms of dysphagia, doctors usually also order an
upper endoscope examination. During this examination, a flexible
viewing tube is inserted through the mouth into the esophagus. It
allows for direct visualization of the inner lining of the esophagus
and the stomach. The test helps to exclude early cancer,
esophagitis, and Barrett's esophagus.
What treatment is for Schatzki Ring?
Management of these rings involve procedures that will stretch or
fracture these rings, thus allowing freer passage of solid food.
Stretching or fracturing can be performed with endoscopes, or tapered
dilators inserted through the mouth, or dilator balloons placed
across the ring by endoscopes. Open surgery is hardly ever necessary
to handle these rings.
Last Editorial Review: 4/24/2002
 |
 |
From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
|
Specialty RSS
