A 39-Year-Old Man Has from Chest Pain When He Eats

question 29

Short Answer

A 39-year-old man has from chest pain when he eats, especially meat. He also belches excessively and has heartburn. His wife complains about his bad breath. The radiograph shows a dilated esophagus, and achalasia is suspected. Esophageal manometry confirms the diagnosis. Which one of the pressure tracings given below was taken at the lower esophageal sphincter of this patient before and after swallowing (arrow)? The dashed line represents a pressure of 0 mm Hg.

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Definitions:

Chemotherapy

A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells.

Melanoma

A serious form of skin cancer that arises from the pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

A type of skin cancer originating from the basal cells in the epidermis, noted for its slow growth and being highly treatable.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A form of skin cancer that develops in the squamous cells, which make up the middle and outer layers of the skin, and can be caused by prolonged sun exposure.