As an internationally recognized center for the treatment of complex esophageal diseases, we treat many conditions of or relating to the thoracic foregut in addition to esophageal cancers, GERD and Barrett’s esophagus.
Other diseases of the esophagus treated at USC University Hospital include:
- Achalasia – a rare disorder of the esophagus in which the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax enough for the passage to open properly. Treatment can include the injection of botulinum toxin to paralyze the muscle and prevent spasms.
- Chronic Aspiration – aspiration occurs when food and/or liquids “go down the wrong pipe,” entering the airway. When this happens often over a long period of time, this is referred to as chronic aspiration.
- Cricopharyngeal Dysphagia – the cricopharyngeus is a horizontal muscle that separates the bottom of the throat from the top of the esophagus. When it malfunctions, it can cause difficulty swallowing. Treatment can include a procedure called a cricopharyngeal myotomy, which disables the muscle, allowing food to pass through.
Diagnosing Other Diseases of the Esophagus
As with other esophageal disorders, USC University Hospital physicians employ a variety of tests to determine the best course of treatment for a particular malady. These tests may include:
- Esophageal pH monitoring – a test that measures how often and for how long stomach acid enters the esophagus from the stomach. A sensor at the end of a thin catheter is threaded through the patient’s nose and positioned in his or her esophagus, just above the lower esophageal sphincter. Once in place, the sensor detects stomach acid over a 24-hour period.
- Bravo Capsule pH Monitoring – a new, catheter-free pH test in which a capsule collects pH data and transmits it via radio waves to a small external receiver worn by the patient.
- Pharyngeal monitoring
- Upper Endoscopy – this procedure allows a physician to look inside the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (part of the small intestine). During an upper endoscopy, the patient swallows a thin lighted tube called an endoscope, which transmits an image of the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum to a television monitor, so the physician can examine the lining of these organs.
For a physician referral, call 1-800-700-5700.