A 52-year-old male presents to the clinic with a 3-month history of progressive difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), first noticed with solid foods and now involving liquids. He reports episodes of regurgitation of undigested food and occasional coughing during meals. He also notes a sensation of food "sticking" in his chest after swallowing and has unintentionally lost 10 pounds over the past two months. There is no history of smoking, alcohol use, or previous surgeries, and he denies chest pain, heartburn, or hoarseness.

On examination, the patient appears thin but otherwise healthy. Physical examination, including a neck examination, is unremarkable. A barium swallow study reveals a narrowing of the distal esophagus, and an upper endoscopy confirms an esophageal stricture likely secondary to chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The patient is referred to a gastroenterologist for further evaluation, including esophageal dilation and management of underlying GERD with proton pump inhibitors.

The diagnosis is esophageal stricture with secondary dysphagia.