This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Schatzki ring (SR)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Schatzki and Gary described a finding of contractile ring at the distal oesophagus seen on barium oesophagography performed in five patients, and their patients had dyspagia (1)

  • however, they also reported that this contractile ring could be observed in patients without dysphagia
  • today, this contractile ring in the distal esophagus is usually called the Schatzki ring, and it is described in major textbooks that deal with diseases of the oesophagus
  • Schatzki rings are further subdivided into those above the esophagus/stomach junction (A rings), and those found at the squamocolumnar junction in the lower esophagus (B rings)

Prevalence of a lower oesophageal Schatzki ring (SR) ranges from 4%-15%, depending on the diagnostic method and population investigated

  • in the majority of cases, it does not cause any symptoms, however, it is also one of the most common causes of intermittent dysphagia and food impaction
  • aetiology and pathogenesis still remain unclear. Gastroesophageal reflux disease has been suggested as an aetiological factor
    • however, prospective studies have documented an association with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in less than two-thirds of patients
    • a significant proportion of patients with SRs also have eosinophilic oesophagitis (2)

Reference:

  • Schatzki R, Gary JE. Dysphagia due to a diaphragm-like narrowing in the lower esophagus ("lower esophageal ring"). Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med 1953; 70:911-922
  • Müller M et al. Endoscopic findings in patients with Schatzki rings: evidence for an association with eosinophilic esophagitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2012 Dec 21;18(47):6960-6.

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.