Esophageal Conditions We Treat

Expert care for GERD and other esophageal disorders.

The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Conditions that affect the esophagus can be disruptive to your life, and they require specialized care. Our team at Henry Ford Health offers the most advanced treatments for the full range of esophageal disorders.

Some of the many esophageal conditions we treat include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): a condition in which the lower esophageal sphincter (a muscle at the end of the esophagus) opens when it shouldn’t, which lets food and stomach acid back up into the esophagus
• Barrett’s esophagus: a condition in which the chronic presence of stomach acid causes the esophagus to develop precancerous cells
• Achalasia: a condition in which the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t open properly, which makes it hard for food to pass into the stomach
• Esophagitis: inflammation of the esophagus caused by acid reflux, infection or side effects of certain medications
• Esophageal cancer

How we diagnose esophageal disorders

If your doctor suspects that you have an esophageal disorder, we use the most advanced tests available to rule in or rule out that diagnosis, including:

• Barium X-ray: You’ll drink barium, a substance that shows up well on X-rays, so we can see detailed images of your esophagus
• Blood tests
• Endoscopy: We’ll use an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a light and a camera) to examine your esophagus and its lining
• Esophageal pH acidity test: We’ll measure the amount of acid flowing from the stomach into your esophagus
• Manometry test: We’ll test how well the muscles in your esophagus work
• Physical exam

Once we’ve diagnosed your esophageal disorder, you and your doctor will work together to create a customized treatment plan based on your unique needs and concerns.