Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench

Abstract

When considering a patient with dysphagia, an attempt should be made to determine whether the patient has difficulty only with solid boluses (suggestive of mechanical dysphagia) or with liquids and solids (suggestive of a motility dysphagia). Lesions such as an oesophageal tumor and external pressure effect from a lung tumor or aberrant vessel can lead to mechanical dysphagia. Endoscopy and / or a barium swallow are helpful in identifying the anatomical disarrangement. In this study a patient with progressive mechanical dysphagia is presented that finally diagnosed by as Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma. There were no respiratory symptoms. Diagnosis was made by a computerized tomography scan of the thorax, bronchoscopy and bronchial biopsy.