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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to the stomach. You may not be aware of your esophagus until you swallow something too large, too hot, or too cold. You may also notice it when something is wrong. You may feel pain or have trouble swallowing.

The most common problem with the esophagus is GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). With GERD, a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it. Over time, GERD can cause damage to the esophagus.

Other problems include heartburn, cancer, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Doctors may use various tests to make a diagnosis. These include imaging tests, an upper endoscopy, and a biopsy.

Treatment depends on the problem. Some problems get better with over-the-counter medicines or changes in diet. Others may need prescription medicines or surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

• Overview of the Esophagus (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Barium Swallow (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal pH Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Upper GI Endoscopy (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
• Upper GI Series (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
• X-Ray Exam: Neck (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Esophageal Cancer Prevention (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Achalasia - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Globus (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)

Specifics

• Abnormal Propulsion of Food (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Achalasia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Barrett's Esophagus (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Bile Reflux (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal Spasms (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal Varices (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• GERD: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Triple A syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Barrett Esophagus (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Achalasia (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Recent advances in machine learning for precision diagnosis and treatment of...
• Article: Esophageal Lichen Planus: a Narrative Review of the Literature.
• Article: Host-microbial interactions in the esophagus.
• Esophagus Disorders -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Your Digestive System and How It Works (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• American College of Gastroenterology
• ASGE: Find a Doctor (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
• Find a Gastroenterologist (GI Doctor) (American College of Gastroenterology)
• Find a SAGES Surgeon (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons)
• Find an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist) (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

• Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Reflux in Children: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Reflux in Infants: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Tracheoesophageal fistula repair - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Achalasia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Barrett esophagus (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Bleeding esophageal varices (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Diet and eating after esophagectomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• EGD discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal atresia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal manometry (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal perforation (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal spasm (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophageal stricture - benign (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Esophagitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Infectious esophagitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lower esophageal ring (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Mallory-Weiss tear (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Swallowing problems (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Upper GI and small bowel series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish