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Pediatric geneticist, pediatrician

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Congenital esophageal stenosis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

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Congenital esophageal stenosis is a narrowing of the lumen of the esophagus, usually in the area of aortic stenosis, which occurs as a result of hypertrophy of the muscular membrane of the esophagus in the presence of a fibrous or cartilaginous ring in the wall of the esophagus or the formation of thin membranes of the mucous membrane.

ICD-10 code

Q39.3. Congenital stenosis of the esophagus.

Epidemiology

A rare developmental defect that occurs in 1 in 25-50 thousand newborns.

Symptoms of congenital esophageal stenosis

Minor stenosis is asymptomatic for a long time, manifesting itself when solid food is introduced into the child's diet. With severe stenosis, dysphagia and regurgitation are noted during and after feeding the child. With significant narrowing of the esophagus, suprastenotic dilation is formed. In children over one year old, vomiting occurs with stagnant contents without bile, which does not have a sour smell (esophageal vomiting), discomfort, a feeling of pressure and pain behind the breastbone, and appetite decreases. Older children chew food especially thoroughly, washing it down with liquid.

Diagnosis of congenital esophageal stenosis

Confirmation of the diagnosis is considered to be clinical symptoms, data from fibroesophagogastroscopy, and X-ray contrast examination of the esophagus.

Differential diagnostics

Cyst or tumor of the mediastinum, congenital anomalies of the aorta and large vessels.

Treatment of congenital esophageal stenosis

Conservative (bougienage or dilation), surgical (dissection of the membrane or excision of the narrowed area with the imposition of anastomosis).

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