| oesophageal impression | The marking of the oesophagus on the back of the left lobe of the liver. Synonym: impressio oesophagea. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| oesophageal intramural pseudo-diverticulosis | <radiology> Dilated submucosal glands and ducts, similar to Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses of gall bladder, XR: multiple intramural tics, often on one view only, secondary to oesophagitis, relatively asymptomatic, with or without stricture, with or without candidiasis (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal lead | An electrocardiographic lead passed down the throat into the oesophagus to record the electrocardiogram at various levels of the oesophagus; especially useful for certain types of arrhythmias. Similarly, a transducer for echocardiography can be passed into the oesophagus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oesophageal motility disorders | Disorders affecting the motor function of the upper or lower oesophageal sphincters, the oesophageal body, or a combination of these parts. The failure of the sphincters to maintain a tonic pressure may result in the impeding of the passage of food, regurgitation of food, or reflux of gastric acid into the oesophagus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal mucosa | The inner coat of the oesophagus. Synonym: tunica mucosa oesophagi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oesophageal mucosal nodules | <radiology> Glycogenic acanthosis, oesophagitis (especially monilial), superficial spreading carcinoma (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal narrowing | <radiology> Oesophageal web, Schatzki ring, carcinoma (oesophagus, stomach, metastases, invasion by adjacent tumour), lymphoma, oesophagitis, scleroderma, postsurgical stricture, stricture post NG tube see: oesophageal stricture (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal opening | The opening in the right crus of the diaphragm, between the central tendon and the hiatus aorticus, through which pass the oesophagus and the two vagus nerves. Synonym: hiatus oesophageus, oesophageal opening. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oesophageal perforation | <radiology> Usually in neonates, upper oesophagus frequently affected, then NG tube dissects posteriorly, relatively benign in neonates CXR findings: pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, abnormal distance between NG tube and trachea on lateral view, NG tube does not terminate in stomach, thin irregular tract (with contrast) vs. Large regular tract (tracheo-oesophageal fistula), pleural effusion, patchy infiltrates see: oesophageal trauma (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal plexus | One of two nervous plexus's, posterior and anterior on the walls of the oesophagus; the first is formed by branches from the right vagus and left recurrent, the second by the anastomosing trunks of the vagus after leaving the pulmonary plexus's; branches supply the mucous and muscular coats of the oesophagus. Synonym: plexus oesophageus, plexus gulae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oesophageal reflux | A condition wherein stomach contents regurgitate or back up (reflux) into the oesophagus (a long cylindrical tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach). The food in the stomach is partially digested by stomach acid and enzymes. Normally, the partially digested acid content in the stomach is delivered by the stomach muscle into the small intestine for further digestion. In oesophageal reflux, stomach acid content refluxes backwards up into the oesophagus, occasionally reaching the breathing passages, causing inflammation and damage to the oesophagus, as well as to the lung and larynx (the voice box). The process is medically termed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 10% of patients with GERD develop a Barrett's oesophagus which can increase the risk of cancer of the oesophagus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oesophageal ring | A congenital anatomic narrowing in the lower 1/3 of the oesophagus that is the result of inappropriate embryological development of the oesophagus. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing and chest pain (under the sternum). Treatment involves the use of a fibreoptic endoscope using a dilator to open up the narrowed segment of the oesophagus. (27 Sep 1997) |
| oesophageal rupture | Named after Captain Boerhaave, a Dutch ship captain, who was the first patient this condition was described in. Traumatic rupture of the lower oesophagus can occur with significant blunt chest trauma, during CPR or in some conditions of forceful protracted vomiting. This condition is much more common in the patient with a pre-existing oesophageal disease such as reflux oesophagitis. The chest X-ray will typically show an abnormal left cardiac border with free fluid within the left hemithorax (pleural effusion). Patients will experience immediate chest pain, which may radiate to the neck, accompanied by shock, sepsis and death within 48 hours if untreated. (27 Sep 1997) |
| oesophageal smear | A group of cytologic specimens containing material from the mouth (oral smear), oesophagus and stomach (gastric smear), duodenum (paraduodenal smear), and colon, obtained by specialised lavage techniques; used principally for the diagnosis of cancer of those areas. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oesophageal spasm | A disorder of the motility of the oesophagus characterised by pain or forceful eructations after swallowing food. Oesophageal muscle contractions are of excessive force and duration. Chest pain can be confused with symptoms of cardiac or other origin. (05 Mar 2000) |