Esophagitis

Esophagitis
Other names	Oesophagitis
An esophageal ulcer visualized by esophagoscopy: the reddened area at 10 o'clock on the surface of the mucosa.
Specialty	Gastroenterology
Complications	Cancer

Esophagitis, also spelled oesophagitis, is a disease characterized by inflammation of the esophagus. The esophagus is a tube composed of a mucosal lining, and longitudinal and circular smooth muscle fibers. It connects the pharynx to the stomach; swallowed food and liquids normally pass through it.^[1]

Esophagitis can be asymptomatic; or can cause epigastric and/or substernal burning pain, especially when lying down or straining; and can make swallowing difficult (dysphagia). The most common cause of esophagitis is the reverse flow of acid from the stomach into the lower esophagus: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).^[2]