Esophageal achalasia is a functional disorder characterized by the absence of peristaltic contractions in the esophageal body and failure of complete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter in response to swallowing. This disease is relatively frequent in some parts of the world, such as Brazil. It can be primary or idiopathic, or secondary to Chagas’ disease, to pseudointestinal obstruction, to surgical trauma, or to neoplasia.