Heartburn. The role of radiology.

There is currently controversy as to the importance of the radiologic demonstration of a hiatal hernia, reflux, or both as the explanation of heartburn. It is clear, however, that clinical-radiologic correlation requires additional observations such as the straightness of the potential path for reflux, the presence of a contractile esophagogastric region, the degree of extrinsic compression of the cuff of the stomach within the hiatus, the size of the hernia, and the peristaltic activity of the body of the esophagus. Vigorous or water-swallowing maneuvers to demonstrate reflux are unreliable in individual cases. Of importance is the concept that the so-called patulous cardia, or effaced abdominal esophagus or widened or absent "submerged segment," is a variety of sliding hiatal hernia that is often neglected radiologically but may be of considerable clinical significance.