Esophageal retention on modified barium swallow study: Limited predictive value for true esophageal pathology

Table 1 Demographics and clinical characteristics, n (%)

Variable	Patients with follow-up (n = 122)	Patients lost to follow-up (n = 77)
Birth sex: Male	55 (45.1)	37 (48.1)
Age [mean (SD)]	64.02 (16.0)	64.7 (16.4)
Body mass index [mean (SD)]	26.1 (6.2)	26.58 (7.7)
Modified barium swallow study: Esophageal retention present	84 (68.9)	57 (74.0)
Main presenting symptom in gastroenterology clinic (n = 76)		N/A
Dysphagia	63 (82.9)
Reflux	2 (2.63)
Dyspepsia	5 (6.58)
Other (cough, belching, diarrhea, etc.)	6 (7.89)
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (n = 53, some patients with > 1 abnormality)		N/A
Any abnormality	27 (50.9)
Achalasia	6 (11.3)
Diverticulum	5 (9.4)
Eosinophilic esophagitis	5 (9.4)
Esophagitis (non-eosinophilic)	7 (13.2)
Hiatal hernia > 4 cm	4 (7.5)
Stricture	5 (9.4)
Esophagram: Abnormality present (n = 64)	39 (60.9)	N/A
Manometry: Chicago classification (n = 31)		N/A
Normal	17 (54.8)
Achalasia	4 (12.9)
Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction	6 (19.4)
Hypercontractile	1 (3.2)
Ineffective esophageal motility	3 (9.9)
Anti-reflux testing: DeMeester (n = 11)		N/A
< 14.7	7 (63.6)
> 14.7	4 (36.4)
Anti-reflux testing: Potential of hydrogen total acid exposure (n = 11)		N/A
< 4%	8 (72.7)
4%-6%	0 (0)
> 6%	3 (27.3)
Confirmed esophageal pathology1		N/A
No	56 (45.9)
Yes	27 (22.1)
Equivocal/Incomplete testing	39 (32.0)

¹Based on comprehensive evaluation of gastroenterology clinic notes and esophageal studies by two board-certified gastroenterologists with specialized training in esophageal disorders.

N/A: Not applicable.