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Esophageal contact ulcer: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Contact ulcer of the esophagus is a rare disease that occurs as a result of prolonged pressing contact of the walls of the esophagus, located in front between the plate of the cricoid cartilage and behind - the body of the sixth cervical vertebra. Because of this, two "kissing" ulcers appear, one on the anterior wall, the other - on the back. The close location of the cricoid cartilage and the body of the sixth cervical vertebra is explained by the emerging degenerative changes in the cartilage of the intervertebral discs (spondylosis), leading to deformation of the cervical spine and its convergence with the larynx. Initially, ischemic phenomena occur in the compressed parts of the esophagus, followed by trophic changes leading to the formation of ulcers. Similar changes in other sections of the esophagus can occur with a long-term presence of a probe or foreign body in the lumen of the esophagus, with an aortic aneurysm and tumors that compress the esophagus.
The pathomorphological process begins with the formation of superficial lesions of the esophageal mucosa, then the ulcerative-necrotic process spreads forward, reaches the cricoid cartilage and destroys it. Clinically, these destructive phenomena are manifested by respiratory and swallowing disorders. The disease, once it has arisen, develops quickly, within 10-20 days, leading to severe dysfunctions, most often ending in death.
Old age, weak cardiac activity, congestion in the esophagus caused by impaired hemodynamics in the liver, general loss of strength - all this accelerates the process of occurrence of decubital ulcers of the esophagus.
The treatment options for contact ulcers of the esophagus are very limited and often ineffective due to the rapid development of irreversible pathomorphological changes.
Prevention consists of careful use of long-term tube feeding in elderly patients, especially in cases of chemical burns of the esophagus.
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