<unk>  is a rare and poorly understood medical disorder involving inflammation in the esophagus. The disease is named from the primary inflammatory process, wherein lymphocytes are seen within the esophageal mucosa. Symptoms of the condition include difficulty swallowing, heartburn and food bolus obstruction. The condition was first described in 2006 by Rubio and colleagues. Initial reports questioned whether this was a true medical disorder, or whether the inflammation was secondary to another condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease. The cause of<unk>  is unknown. The disease may cause different symptoms and be caused by different processes in childhood as compared to adulthood. Some studies have shown that it is associated with either other medical conditions involving the esophagus, including gastroesophageal reflux disease and achalasia, or other inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's disease, coeliac disease, and allergic conditions. The diagnosis is based upon a biopsy of the mucosa of the esophagus, showing a characteristic appearance of inflammation involving lymphocytes, and the relative absence of another group of inflammatory cells, granulocytes. Complications of the disorder include stricture of the esophagus, which can lead to food bolus obstruction, and weight loss. Treatment of<unk>  includes medications meant to target the esophagus topically, such as budesonide, but also procedures to deal with complications, such as esophageal dilation.
Lymphocytic esophagitis
Herpes esophagitis
Cytomegalovirus esophagitis
Eosinophilic esophagitis
Esophageal candidiasis
Atrophic gastritis
Barrett's esophagus
Nutcracker esophagus