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Esophageal membrane: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Esophageal membrane (synonyms: congenital membranous diaphragm of the esophagus, membranous atresia, lower esophageal membrane, Schatzki ring, B ring).
Esophageal membrane is a stricture of the mucous membrane of the esophagus of 2-4 mm, most likely congenital, causing, like a ring, a narrowing of the distal section of the esophagus at the border of the multilayered squamous nonkeratinizing and columnar epithelium. This membrane is a flap of connective tissue covered with keratinizing epithelium. The pathology is almost always localized in the upper section of the esophagus. There are often holes in the membrane that partially allow food to pass through.
ICD-10 code
Q39.4. Esophageal membrane.
[ Esophageal Web Symptoms
Symptoms of esophageal webbing usually appear when the lumen of the esophagus is less than 12 mm in diameter, and there are no symptoms if the diameter is greater than 20 mm.
When solid food is introduced into the child's diet, dysphagia occurs. When the opening in the membrane is large, food enters the stomach. Children usually chew their food thoroughly. The membrane often becomes inflamed due to food residue.
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Treatment of esophageal membrane
Gradual expansion of the esophagus with probes of various diameters. The diaphragm, which completely blocks the lumen of the esophagus, is removed under endoscopic control.
Patients should be advised that in case of a wide membrane, thorough chewing of food is the only method of treatment, but in case of a membrane causing significant narrowing of the lumen, endoscopic dilation or bougienage is necessary. Surgical resection is rarely used.
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