achalasia
/ˌakəˈleɪzɪə
/noun [mass noun] Medicine
A condition in which the muscles of the lower part of the oesophagus fail to relax, preventing food from passing into the stomach.This case also illustrates the therapeutic dilemma if surgery fails in patients with achalasia....
- If endoscopy shows no obvious abnormality a diagnosis of a primary motility disturbance of the oesophagus such as achalasia should be considered.
- Patients with achalasia typically present with dysphagia to solids and liquids.
Origin
Early 20th century: from a-1 'without, not' + Greek khalasis 'loosening' (from khalan 'relax') + -ia1.