[Esophageal transit and esophageal motility disorders in patients with nontoxic goiter and recurrent dysphagia].

Esophageal motor function was studied in 14 patients affected with diffuse and (multi)nodular nontoxic goiter, with dysphagia and neck discomfort, and in 10 age-matched controls without thyroid and/or gastroesophageal diseases. Esophageal manometry was employed to evaluate upper esophageal sphincter pressure (UESP) and lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), amplitude, duration and propagation velocity of peristaltic contractions and the presence of simultaneous deglutitive pressure waves. Esophageal transit was evaluated by radioisotopical method, at different times, in proximal, middle and distal esophagus. LESP was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in goitrous patients compared with controls. No difference was, on the contrary, found in the UESP, esophageal peristaltic wave amplitude and duration. Significantly (p < 0.05) increased propagation velocity of the peristaltic contractions and the presence of simultaneous deglutitive pressure waves in distal esophagus were observed in goitrous patients. Esophageal transit delay was found early in proximal and middle, and, at all times, in distal part of the esophagus of nontoxic goitrous patients. It is concluded that esophageal transit delay, early in the upper and prolonged in the lower part of the esophagus, represents the main findings of the esophageal dysfunction in the patients with nontoxic goiter and dysphagia.