The authors describe a case of eleven year-old boy, who had been suffering from swallowing disorders, which for several years were evaluated as psychogenic, though the possibility of an organic cause was not excluded with certainty. Severe stenosis of the esophagus was detected only when a contrast esophagogram followed by flexible endoscopy were performed because of an acute deterioration in the patient’s status. Before determining the diagnosis of functional dysphagia it is necessary to exclude an organic cause.

        Key words: dysphagia – esophageal stenosis – contrast esophagogram