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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Clinical and endoscopic studies of dysphagia
1
G.S. Moirangthem, 2 Ch. Arun Kumar Singh, 3 Dathiadiam Tongper, 3 Dacto Gara
Abstract
Objective: The aim and objective of the
present study was to evaluate the nature and
frequency of different upper gastrointestinal
conditions leading to dysphagia and to study
the diagnostic potential of upper
gastrointestinal endoscopy in relation with
clinical symptoms. Methods: The present
study was conducted in Surgical
Gastroenterology and Minimal Access Surgery
Unit, Department of Surgery, RIMS, Imphal,
Manipur over the period of twenty four month
(September 2008 to September 2010). The
study population consisted of 50 patients
presenting with dysphagia at our OPD or
referred to our unit from various departments
for endoscopic evaluation for dysphagia
irrespective of age, sex, marital status, social
caste, religion. Results: There was male
preponderance of 56% (28 pts) as against
44% (22 pts) of his female counterpart. The
average age of the patients in the sample (n
= 50) was 53± years. Nineteen patients out of
50 patients were associated with a recent
significant weight loss, rest 31 patients does
not have any weight loss. Significant,
1. Professor & Head; 2. Associate Professor;
3. PGT, Surgical Gastroenterology & Minimal
Access Surgery Unit, RIMS, Imphal-795004,
Manipur (INDIA)
Corresponding author:
Dr. Ch. Arun Kumar Singh, Surgical
Gastroenterology & Minimal Access Surgery Unit,
RIMS, Imphal-795004, Manipur e-mail:
drcharun@yahoo.com
Lymphadenopathy was found in 7 patients
only. Endoscopic Biopsy for HPE was down
in 16 out of 50 patients who were suspected
of having Carcinoma of esophagus and
carcinoma of oropharynx.
Out of the sample of 50 patients presenting
with dysphagia and associated complaints,
10 patients (20%) were diagnosed as
superficial esophagitis on upper GI
endoscopy, in 10 patients (20%) no obvious
pathological findings were demonstrated
(Normal findings) and fourteen cases of
carcinoma (6 Ca. esophagus, 5 Ca.
oropharynx and 3 Ca. stomach), 5 cases of
benign esophageal stricture (corrosive
stricture), 5 cases of Grade III & IV esophageal
varices, 2 cases of GERD, 3 achalasia, 1 case
of hiatus hernia were detected.
Conclusion: The present study shows that
Upper GI endoscopy in conjunction with HPE
and barium X ray is a good diagnostic modality
in evaluating a case of dysphagaia. Different
cases of dysphagia in a limited number of 50
patients were evaluated.
Keywords: Dysphagia, Upper GI Endoscopy
and dysphagia, Barium swallow and
dysphagia
Introduction: Dysphagia is a Greek word and
means ‘disordered eating’. Dysphagia
typically refers to difficulty in eating as a result
of disruption in the swallowing process.
Dysphagia may be caused by a variety of
upper GI conditions, it can be divided into high
and low causes.
50 JMS * JMS Vol 25 * Vol * No. 25 3 * No. * September, 1 * June, 2010 2011