Tortuous aorta--a new cause for esophageal chest pain?
Shah, P.; Ramakantan, R.
Indian Journal of Gastroenterology Official Journal of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology 9(2): 153-154
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0254-8860 PMID: 2323801 Document Number: 347815
Three patients (average age 61 years) presenting with retrosternal pain were evaluated with barium studies of the upper gastrointestinal tract. In each case, the esophagus was significantly displaced by a tortuous aorta. All patients had sliding hiatal hernias; these hiatal hernias, and the esophagitis and disordered motility seen in our patients, could be a consequence of esophageal displacement by the tortuous aorta. Two patients were relieved symptomatically with antacids and metoclopramide. Thus, tortuosity of the thoracic aorta can cause esophageal chest pain.