Esophageal strictures: Management beyond dilation

Table 3 Difference between refractory and recurrent esophageal stricture

Feature	Refractory stricture	Recurrent stricture
Lumen diameter achieved	Never reaches a diameter of ≥ 14 mm after 5 sessions of dilation performed at a short interval	Reaches ≥ 14 mm but later narrows again
Symptom pattern	Persistent dysphagia	Symptom-free interval followed by recurrence
Typical cause	Severe fibrosis, unresponsive inflammation	Incomplete disease control or complex anatomy