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Lower esophageal ring (Schatzki)

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Lower esophageal ring (Schatzki)

Definition:

A lower esophageal ring is an abnormal ring of tissue located at the junction of the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach) and the stomach, which can cause swallowing problems.

Alternative Names:
Esophagogastric ring; Schatzki's ring

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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Physicians disagree on the cause of this disorder, unless it obviously follows ingestion of caustic material such as lye or strong acids. It may be a congenital defect (present from before birth). Alternatively, it may be related to chronic injury caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), in which stomach acid leaks into the esophagus and irritates it.

Esophageal rings are known to occur from drinking a caustic substance, causing scar tissue. The condition may produce swallowing difficulties.

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