[Disorders of esophageal function as a cause of thoracic pain].

Oesophageal disorders can be identified in about one third of the patients with non cardiac chest pain. Motility disturbances and gastro-oesophageal reflux are the leading causes of chest pain of oesophageal origin. Heart diseases and organic lesions of the oesophagus have to be ruled out by cardiological examination and endoscopy, respectively. Oesophageal motility testing and long-term-pH-metry are useful to further characterize the underlying functional disorder. Because of the spontaneous fluctuations of symptoms and the effects of placebo treatment therapy should be conservative and based on the results of these investigational procedures.