Cricopharyngeal spasm, also known as upper esophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction or cricopharyngeal dysfunction, is a condition characterized by the abnormal contraction of the cricopharyngeal muscle, which is a ring-like muscle at the top of the esophagus. This muscle normally helps prevent air from entering the esophagus during breathing and prevents reflux of stomach contents into the throat.
Key points:
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Symptoms: Throat pain or discomfort, such as dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) that feels like a sensation of food sticking in the throat or chest, or globus that feels like a lump or tightness in the throat unrelated to swallowing.
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Causes: Unclear. May be associated with conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), neurological disorders, or psychological factors.
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Diagnosis: Diagnosis is typically based on the clinical presentation and may involve an endoscopy to examine the esophagus, a barium swallow study (a radiologic test to visualize the swallowing process), and esophageal manometry (a measure of muscle contractions and coordination in the esophagus).
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Treatment: Treatment approaches may include therapy to improve swallowing and relaxation of the cricopharyngeal muscle; medications such as muscle relaxants or certain antidepressants; botox injections to relax the muscle, or surgery for severe cases.
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Management: Lifestyle and dietary modifications, such as eating smaller meals, avoiding late-night meals, and avoiding trigger foods, may help manage symptoms. Managing underlying conditions, such as GERD, may help.