[Primary motor disorders of the non-achalasic esophagus: a manometric analysis]

We studied 85 patients with esophageal symptoms of a motor abnormality in whom esophagitis, achalasia or other organic lesions were ruled out by endoscopy. Main symptoms were dysphagia and severe retrosternal pain. Cardiac origin of the pain was ruled out by clinical and EKG evaluation in 72% of patients. Mean age was 43 years and female to male ratio was 3:1. Manometric study, performed in all patients, revealed diffuse spasm in 42, hypertensive sphincter in 16, nutcraker esophagus in 11 and nonspecific motor abnormalities in 16 patients. Only manometric studies can identify these esophageal disturbances. These studies should be performed in patients with non cardiac retrosternal pain.