Oesophageal ulcer – lesions with loss of the lining that develop in the oesophagus are most often caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
In this condition, due to inadequate function of the lower sphincter and motility disorders of the oesophagus, as well as of the stomach, acidic and/or alkaline stomach contents flow back into the oesophagus, where the pH is normally around neutral.
As a result, the oesophagus’s lining in the lower third can become inflamed, and erosions or even deeper defects (ulcers) can appear in the epithelium.
This can develop entirely without complaints or symptoms, but it can also cause typical (burning in theoesophagus, acid reflux, upper abdominal pain) or atypical (coughing, tooth decay, inflammation of the throat and larynx, asthma-like symptoms, recurrent pneumonia, sinusitis, swallowing problems, iron-deficiency anaemia, ear pain, increased salivation) symptoms.
Oesophagusulcers can also develop as a result of direct irritation (acid and alkali poisoning, medications stuck in the oesophagus, e.g. potassium salt tablets).
