Peptic oesophageal strictures occur as a result of chronic injury to the oesophagus by gastric acid, or more rarely, bile. They occur in about 15% of patients with reflux oesophagitis. They tend to occur at the squamo-columnar junction in the distal oesophagus and the majority are less than 2cm in length.
Histologically, the stricture shows submucosal fibrosis, destruction of the muscularis mucosae, and varying amounts of perioesophageal inflammatory change.
Dysphagia of chronic nature is a classical presentation.
It is important to differentiate this condition from carcinoma - done with barium swallow, followed by endoscopy.
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