Congenital Esophageal Anomalies
Key Concepts Print Section Listen Epidemiology Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA–TEF) occurs in 1 in 3400. Esophageal duplication cysts represent 10 to 15 percent of foregut duplication cysts and…
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Esophageal Motility Disorders
Key Concepts Print Section Listen Epidemiology Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most frequently encountered problems seen in clinical practice today. It is estimated that 60 million adults…
Mediastinal Disease
Key Concepts Print Section Listen Epidemiology Thymic tumors are the most common primary neoplasm of the anterior mediastinum, accounting for about 20 percent of anterior mediastinal masses. Their peak incidence…
Benign Diffuse Pulmonary Disorders
Key Concepts Print Section Listen Epidemiology Diffuse benign pulmonary disorders cover a broad range of primary lung diseases and can be associated with systemic disorders. Pathophysiology Most benign pulmonary disorders…
Esophageal Physiology, Function Tests, and Endoscopic Techniques
Key Concepts Print Section Listen Physiology The basic function of the esophagus is to propagate a bolus from the oropharynx to the stomach. The coordination of esophageal muscle contractions, vagal…
Benign Pleural Disorders
Key Concepts Print Section Listen The pleura are anatomically and physiologically distinct structures. The pleural cavities are formed early during embryonic development from the intraembryonic coelom. Anatomically, the pleura are…
Thoracic Trauma
Key Concepts Print Section Listen Epidemiology Twenty percent of all trauma patients sustain chest injuries. Pathophysiology Thoracic injuries, like with all traumas, can result from blunt or penetrating mechanism. Fractures…
Primary Lung Cancer
Key Concepts Print Section Listen Epidemiology Lung cancer is a leading cause of preventable death attributed to smoking and environmental exposure. Its highest incidence is in men but recent trends…
Thoracic Infections
Key Concepts Print Section Listen The etiology and clinical manifestations of pneumonia depend on the environment where the disease is acquired and the host characteristics. Treatment of pneumonia is based…
Pulmonary Physiology, Function Tests, and Bronchoscopic Techniques
Key Concepts Print Section Listen Epidemiology Pulmonary complications occur in 5 to 10 percent of all surgical patients and have been shown to prolong hospital stay by 1 to 2…
