ETIOLOGIES OF ESOPHAGEAL DYSPHAGIA: EXPERIENCE AT GASTROENTEROLOGY DEPARTMENT, HAYATABAD MEDICAL COMPLEX, PESHAWAR

Objective of the Study: To find different causes of dysphagia in patients with esophageal dysphagia.
Patient and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of
Hayatabad medical complex Peshawar. Patients with complains of esophageal dysphagia were included in the study
after applying the exclusion criteria. Detailed history taking, systemic examination and investigations including hematological,
biochemical and radiological parameters were done for all patients followed by endoscopic examination of
the upper GI tract and biopsies were taken from suspicious lesions. All data was analyzed using SPSS Program 10.0.
Descriptive statistics were calculated for the study variables.
Results: A total of ninety eight patients with esophageal dysphagia were studied including 62.2% males and 37.8%
females. Most cases were in the 40-60 years age group (86.7%) with majority of the cases from Afghanistan (52%).
Esophageal carcinoma was the most common finding with middle third of esophagus the most common site of involvement.
In 22.4% of cases peptic strictures were detected as a cause of esophageal dysphagia while achalasia was
found in only 7 % of cases.
Conclusion: Dysphagia is considered an alarm symptom, indicating the need for an immediate evaluation to find the
cause and initiate appropriate treatment. It is more common in males than females. Esophageal carcinoma is the most
common cause of esophageal dysphagia in our set up and is more common in Afghans. It is one of the main worries
of the patients having dysphagia. Progressive esophageal dysphagia initially for solids with weight loss should raise
a suspicion of malignancy. Other common causes of esophageal dysphagia include peptic strictures and Achalasia.
Key Words: Dysphagia, Esophageal Carcinoma, Peptic stricture, Achalasia