Benign esophageal stricture in a tropical African population.

In North America, the most common causes of benign esophageal stricture are hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis. These are localized to the lower end of the esophagus.At the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, the most common cause of benign esophageal stricture is ingestion of corrosives. The ingestion is accidental, suicidal, or for medicinal purposes. This stricture is long, narrow, and irregular. Most extend from the cervical esophagus to the cardioesophageal junction.A surgical procedure that has given good results is the use of left colon pedicled on the left colic artery for retrosternal isoperistaltic esophagocoloplasty.