Typical Finding of Mechanical Obstruction Suggested in High-resolution Manometry.

A 66-year-old man presented to our motility clinic with a complaint of difficulty swallowing solid food and liquid that had persisted for the past 2 months. His symptoms were intermittent and did not seem progressive. Esophagoscopy revealed a very tightly closed esophagogastric junction (EGJ) (Fig. 1A). We were unable to pass an endoscope through the EGJ. Fluoroscopy revealed a bird-beak like narrowing of the distal esophagus at the EGJ (Fig. 1B). High-resolution manometry (HRM) revealed an elevated mean integrated relaxation pressure of 29.9 mmHg, and simultaneous contractions were observed in 7 out of 10 swallows (Fig. 2). No abnormalities were noted on a multiple swallow test. A biopsy from the EGJ indicated moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, and positron emission tomography CT scans revealed intense hypermetabolic status at the EGJ and cardia of the stomach.

Figure 1

Basic examinations prior to high-resolution manometry. (A) Esophagoscopy revealed a tightly narrowed esophagogastric junction (EGJ). The endoscope was not able to pass the EGJ. (B) Fluoroscopic examination revealed a bird-beak like, abrupt tapering of the distal esophagus and EGJ.

Figure 2

High-resolution manometry (HRM) spatio-temporal plots. (A) HRM revealed elevated integrated relaxation pressure (31.1 mmHg) with increased contractile front velocity (39.0 cm/sec). (B) HRM also showed increased integrated relaxation pressure (27.9 mmHg) and normal peristaltic contraction and contractile front velocity (6.7 cm/sec).

Following the Chicago classification (2011), we categorized our findings as EGJ outflow obstruction due to elevated integrated relaxation pressure and instances of intact peristalsis.1 We considered 2 possible types of causal disease, variant achalasia and mechanical obstruction.2 We were unable to pass the endoscope beyond the EGJ, so we suspected a mechanical obstruction rather than variant achalasia. To differentiate between the 2 conditions, we performed biopsies and positron emission tomography CT scans, and found that our patient's symptoms were caused by adenocarcinoma located at the cardia. This case showed the typical HRM findings of mechanical EGJ outflow obstruction, which resembled the pattern of EGJ flow obstruction if it was a primary esophageal motility disorder, by the 2011 Chicago classification.1