[Thoracic pain of esophageal origin].

Abstract

A group of 53 with angina pectoris-like chest pain and normal coronary arteriography was studied. Nine of these patients had a positive ergonovine test and were diagnosed as coronary spasm or vasospastic angina. In four of these nine patients there was evidence of an accessory esophageal disease responsible for the chest pain. In 44 patients organic or functional ischemic heart disease was excluded. The possible esophageal origin of the pain was studied by means of esophageal manometry and acid and endofonium provocation. The final results were that 15 patients had pain of an esophageal origin and 13 had an esophageal disease that made the esophagus a likely, or at least possible, source of pain.