Esophageal spasms usually present the following intermittent symptoms:
1.Noncardiac chest pain (Less than 10% of causes of noncardiac chest pain are due to DES.);
2.Globus (ie, the sensation that an object is trapped in the throat);
3.Dysphagia (disturbed swallowing) may be reported by one third to two thirds of subjects;
4.Regurgitation (swallowed food does not enter the stomach but turns back);
5.Heartburn (in about 20% of patients).

Diagnostic procedures for confirming esophageal spasms and excluding other conditions with similar symptoms are: esophageal pH recording, barium swallow, esophageal manometry, CT-scan, ultrasound, and endoscopy.

Therapy of the esophageal spasm includes: calcium channel blockers, botulinum toxin, nitrates, tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline), PPI, balloon dilatation and finally surgical treatment (myotomy and esophagectomy).

Prognosis is moderate. Symptom scores improve over time (3 years or longer). No treatment is effective in all patients. Certain patients do not respond to any treatment. In most patients, symptoms are controllable with a combination of treatment modalities.