LOW-AMPLITUDE DISTAL ESOPHAGEAL SPASM AS A CAUSE OF SEVERE DYSPHAGIA FOR SOLID FOOD

This case report presents a patient with progressive dysphagia, accomp anied by weight loss, in the absence of organic disease, Esophageal mo tility studies initially failed to reveal a diagnosis, At simultaneous manometry and fluoroscopy, with bread/barium boluses, the diagnosis o f esophageal spasm in a relatively weak esophagus was made, All conser vative treatment modalities failed, Thoracoscopic myotomy resulted in partial relief of symptoms, Finally, an esophagectomy was performed be cause of severe dysphagia accompanied by persisting weight loss.