Esophagus Tests - Why It Is Done

 

About this test

Tests on the esophagus are done to:

  • Help find the cause of chest pain that is not caused by heart problems (called noncardiac chest pain).
  • Help determine the cause of GERD symptoms for a person who has not been helped by medicine and whose esophagus looks normal during an endoscopy test.
  • Monitor the effectiveness of treatment for GERD.
  • Detect spasms of the esophagus, which can cause chest pain, and problems with the ability of the esophagus to move food down to the stomach (motility problems).
  • Determine whether the esophagus is working normally.
  • To evaluate how the esophagus works before surgery for GERD.

Esophagus tests are usually not done in people with GERD if their symptoms are well controlled with medicine.

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