Esophageal motor dysfunction years after radiation therapy

Well-known complications of radiation to the esophagus are acute esophagitis and strictures. Although radiologic studies have demonstrated motor abnormalities after radiation treatment, clinical aspects have not been described adequately, nor have manometric evaluations been reported. Clinical presentation of dysphagia long after treatment also has not been reported. We describe herein three patients who presented with dysphagia years after radiation therapy. Radiographic, endoscopic, histologic, and manometric studies supported our conclusion that these patients suffered from radiation-induced esophageal motor dysfunction. This report indicates the need, in the proper setting, to consider radiation-induced motor dysfunction as a cause of dysphagia even decades after radiation treatment.