Korean J Gastrointest Motil.  1999 May;5(1):33-38.

Symptomatic Muscular Ring of the Esophagus

• Song CW
• Kim HR
• Lee SJ
• Jeen YT
• Jeon HJ
• Kim CD
• Ryu HS
• Hyun JH
• Lee KT
• Hur BW

Abstract

Symptomatic muscular rings are extremely rare, and some authors have even disputed their existence. The lower esophageal muscular ring, or A ring, located about 2cm proximal to the squamocolumnar junction and are covered by squamous epithelium. These rings consist of an annular narrowing of hypertrophic muscular tissue in the esophageal body. Recently, we experienced 2 cases of symptomatic muscular ring of the esophagus and the findings. Case 1) A 52 year-old male with dysphagia, chest pain and regurgitation for several years, had esophagogram, endoscopy, esophageal motility studies and chest CT. Under the diagnosis of esophageal muscular ring, the patient had pneumatic baUoon dilatation (3.0 cm in diameter, Rigiflex), under which the patient experienced perforation of the lower esophagus and required surgery. We confirmed muscular ring of the esophagus as shown by a thickened muscularis propria layer, without other pathologic findings. Case 2) A 60 year-old male complaining of intermittent dysphagia, had esophagogram, endoscopy, esophageal motility studies and EUS. Under the diagnosis of esophageal muscular ring, he is now being treated with calcium channel blocker and nitrate, and has experienced minimal symptom improvement. We report 2 cases of symptomatic muscular ring of low esophagus with review of literature.

Keyword

Dysphagia; Muscular ring

MeSH Terms

Calcium Channels
Chest Pain
Deglutition Disorders
Diagnosis
Dilatation
Endoscopy
Epithelium
Esophagus*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Calcium Channels