[Dynamic radiologic study with video recording of the oral and pharyngeal stages of normal deglutition]

Radiol Med. 1988 Mar;75(3):166-72.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

The upsurge of interest in dynamic radiology of the oral pharyngeal phases of deglutition can be explained by: (a) the increased survival-rate in neuromuscular diseases; (b) the improved results in head and neck surgery and radiotherapy; (c) the awareness of the existence of a "silent" form of dysphagia. This paper is aimed at divulgating the radiological dynamic investigation of deglutition by videorecording, and at assessing the findings of a study on 119 consecutive non-dysphagic patients (55 males and 64 females; mean age 54 years) as a control group for future studies on dysphagic patients. Seventy-nine out of 119 subjects (66.4%) were found to be normal. Various abnormalities were observed in the remaining 40 (33.6%), such as barium penetration in the subepiglottic or supraglottic space (20 cases), dysmotility of the epiglottis (14 cases), transient and mild cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction (17 cases), diverticula (6 cases). Further studies are needed to evaluate the true significance and implication of these findings in asymptomatic patients. Finally, a more widespread use of this method is hoped for, in order to establish its diagnostic and clinical efficacy.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Barium Sulfate / administration & dosage
  • Deglutition Disorders / diagnostic imaging
  • Deglutition*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pharynx / diagnostic imaging
  • Pharynx / physiology
  • Radiography
  • Video Recording*

Substances

  • Barium Sulfate