Causes of dysphagia in the elderly
| Oropharyngeal | Oesophageal | |
| Structural | Neoplasms | Peptic stricture |
| Infections | Rings and webs | |
| Zenker’s diverticulum | Neoplasm | |
| Vertebral osteophytosis | Vascular compression | |
| Postsurgical | Diverticula | |
| Reflux or drug induced oesophageal injury | ||
| Functional | Cerebrovascular accident | Achalasia |
| Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | Diffuse oesophageal spasm and related disorders | |
| Multiple sclerosis | Idiopathic aperistalsis | |
| Brainstem neoplasm | Scleroderma | |
| Postpoliomyelitis | Diabetes | |
| Peripheral neuropathies | Parkinson’s disease | |
| Muscular dystrophies | Drug induced oesophageal dysfunction | |
| Parkinson’s disease | ||
| Polymyositis and dermatomyositis | ||
| Myasthenia gravis | ||
| Cricopharyngeal dysfunction | ||
| Metabolic myopathy (e.g. thyroid dysfunction, hypercalcemia) | ||
| Idiopathic neuromuscular dysfunction |