Definition and Characteristics
Odynophagia is a cardinal symptom that indicates esophageal disease. It can be due to a variety of implying disorders. Odynophagia usually occurs during the transit of the bolus and disappears once the swallowed material has left the esophagus. It can be of such intensity that the patient refuses to swallow any solids or liquids and expectorates saliva. On the other hand, odynophagia may be mild in intensity, so that the patient is merely aware of the location of the swallowed bolus. Odynophagia can be due to involvement of the mucosa by reflux, radiation, viral or fungal infection, or can be a manifestation of carcinoma, Schatzki ring and webs, or of a localized ulcer caused by a lodged tablet. Odynophagia may be overlap in patients presenting with functional esophageal disorders that were categorized according to the Rome III Consensus Conference as functional heartburn, functional chest pain of presumed esophageal origin, functional dysphagia, and...
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References
Rome III (2006) The functional gastrointestinal disorders. Douglas A. Drossmann (ed.). 3rd edn. Allen Press, Inc. Lawrence, KS, pp 488–555
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Frieling, T. (2009). Odynophagia. In: Lang, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_1313
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29676-8_1313
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-67136-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29676-8
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