A case of diffuse esophageal spasm treated with peroral endoscopic myotomy

The indications for peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) have been expanded to include diffuse esophageal spasm (DES). A 67-year-old Japanese man presented with a 4-year history of dysphagia. Endoscopy and upper gastrography revealed abnormal peristaltic movements involving interruption of normal peristalsis, and a diverticulum located at the 2 o'clock esophageal position. High-resolution manometry indicated DES. POEM with a long (15 cm) myotomy was performed for the abnormal contractions, which subsequently disappeared along with dysphagia improvement. Our results suggest that esophageal motility disorders accompanying a diverticulum may be eliminated by POEM without treating the diverticulum itself. We speculate that POEM ameliorates esophageal diverticulum by reducing internal esophageal pressure.