Achalasia – CXR and CT

Achalasia – CXR and CT

Achalasia. This 78 year old woman presented with severe dysphagia. The CXR shows an abnormal opacity with a curvilinear border to the right of the trachea (arrow), which represents a grossly dilated oesophagus characteristic of achalasia. The CT image illustrates the massive oesophagus, filled with food debris. Note that the gastric air bubble is absent on the CXR – another feature that is characteristic of achalasia.