All issues > Volume 40(11); 1997

Case Report

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1997;40(11):1616-1620. Published online November 15, 1997.

A Case with Dysphagia Caused by Lower Esophageal Ring in Childhood

Su Eun SE Park¹, Hwang Jae HJ Yoo¹, Cheol Hong CH Kim¹, Jae Hong JH Park¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, Korea

Abstract

Lower esophageal ring is unique disorder of the esophagus. It is composed entirely of mucosal fold, containing no muscle or scar tissue. It is one of the most common causes of dysphagia of adults, but an unusual cause of dysphagia in pediatric age group. This 14-year old male patient experienced progressive dysphagia for several years. Approximately 15 months prior to this visit, he began having trouble swallowing solid foods and lost body weight during the period. An esophagogram shows lower esophageal ring. Esophagoscopy revealed the ring just above the esophagogastric mucosal junction. The ring made a concentric narrowing that appeared to form a thin shelf in the lower esophagus. The diameter of the esophageal lumen was about 4mm. Then pneumatic balloon dilatation was performed by Rigiflexⓡ-TTS dilator under fluoroscopic control. The ring was widened without resistance and symptom of dysphagia relieved. After pneumatic dilatation the diameter of the esophageal lumen increased to 12mm. We report a case of lower esophageal ring in childhood and review of the literatures.

Keywords :Esophageal ring, Childhood