A 50-year-old man presents with difficulty swallowing solids and liquids, regurgitation of undigested food, and weight loss. Initial thoughts may lead to esophageal cancer, but the endoscopy is negative for malignancy. What could be the diagnosis?
While these symptoms may initially point to esophageal cancer, the lack of malignancy on endoscopy suggests another cause. This could be a condition known as achalasia, a disorder of the esophagus characterized by the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax properly. This leads to difficulty swallowing, regurgitation, and weight loss. Further evaluation with esophageal manometry could confirm the diagnosis.