Ott D J, Wu W C, Gelfand D W, Richter J E
Gastrointest Radiol. 1984;9(3):185-91. doi: 10.1007/BF01887832.
Sixteen patients with achalasia of the esophagus were treated by fluoroscopically guided pneumatic dilatation. All patients were examined radiographically immediately following dilatation. The caliber of the esophagogastric region increased from a pretreatment mean of 5.3 mm to 9.6 mm following dilatation. The margins of the dilated area remained smooth in 6 patients (38%) and became irregular in 10 (62%). Initial symptomatic improvement was found in 14 patients (88%) with a mean follow-up of 1.7 months. One (6%) perforation occurred, necessitating surgery. The radiographic appearance of the esophagogastric region following pneumatic dilatation, however, poorly predicted patient response.
