Summary
Differentials
Common
- Pharyngitis
- Esophageal candidiasis
- Stroke
- Muscle tension dysphagia
- Diffuse esophageal spasm
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Hiatal hernia
- Postoperative cervical spine surgery
Uncommon
- Epiglottitis
- Retropharyngeal abscess
- Oropharyngeal carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma) and metastases
- Zenker diverticulum
- Cricopharyngeal bar
- Thyromegaly (goiter)
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Oropharyngeal stenosis
- Parkinson disease
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Sjogren syndrome
- Scleroderma
- Inflammatory myopathies
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
- Wilson disease
- Tardive dyskinesia
- Idiopathic achalasia
- Nutcracker esophagus
- Caustic agents
- Pill-induced injury
- Radiation exposure
- Esophageal carcinoma
- Foreign body
- Benign esophageal tumors (leiomyoma, lipoma, polyps)
- Esophageal metastases
- Esophageal compression
- Schatzki ring
- Gastroesophageal muscular ring
- Esophageal diverticulum
- Eosinophilic esophagitis
- Esophageal web
- Botulism
- Oral mucositis
- Cervical osteophytes
Contributors
Authors
Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood
IL
Disclosures
SJC declares that he has no competing interests.
Dr Steven J. Charous would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Michael F. Vaezi and Dr Farnoosh Farrokhi, the previous contributors to this topic. MFV and FF are authors of references cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Instructor in Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Director of Clinical Research
The Celiac Center
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston
MA
Disclosures
DL declares that he has no competing interests.
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Pediatrics
Division of Otolaryngology
Children's National Medical Center
Assistant Professor
Otolaryngology and Pediatrics
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Washington
DC
Disclosures
RKS declares that he has no competing interests.
Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Newcastle University
Honorary Consultant Otolaryngologist
Freeman Hospital
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
UK
Disclosures
JW declares that she has no competing interests.
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