Esophageal and swallowing disorder care

The esophagus, the tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to your stomach, is essential to eating, drinking, and speaking. Structural changes, nerve or muscle problems, or inflammatory conditions can interfere with functions. These issues often require careful evaluation and collaboration across several specialties.

Penn Medicine offers one of the region’s most comprehensive resources for esophageal disorders and swallowing disorder management, with deep experience in both common and highly complex conditions. Our specialists are recognized internationally as leaders in the field and highly experienced in all motility-related disorders of the esophagus, including the most challenging cases that require advanced treatment.

At Penn Medicine, teams across gastroenterology, surgery, imaging, allergy, neurology, pulmonary medicine, speech-language pathology, ears, nose, and throat (ENT), and pathology work together to understand what’s causing your symptoms and develop a personalized plan to address them. This coordinated approach is supported by access to advanced testing and minimally invasive treatment options designed to provide answers and guide precise care.

We also provide specialized care for precancerous and cancerous esophageal problems, working closely with providers within the Penn cancer system, which includes the Abramson Cancer Center, Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute in Lancaster, Doylestown Cancer Institute, and Princeton Cancer Center, to ensure expert evaluation and treatment. As a regional leader in the management of Barrett’s esophagus, Penn offers advanced endoscopic imaging, minimally invasive therapies, and long-term surveillance to detect changes early and tailor care to each person’s needs.