Cleft Palate ; Humans ; Palate, Soft ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; Pharynx ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

PURPOSE: The aim is to study the dependence of deformable based auto-segmentation of head and neck organs-at-risks (OAR) on anatomy matching for a single atlas based system and generate an acceptable set of contours. METHODS: A sample of ten patients in neutral neck position and three atlas sets consisting of ten patients each in different head and neck positions were utilized to generate three scenarios representing poor, average and perfect anatomy matching respectively and auto-segmentation was carried out for each scenario. Brainstem, larynx, mandible, cervical oesophagus, oral cavity, pharyngeal muscles, parotids, spinal cord, and trachea were the structures selected for the study. Automatic and oncologist reference contours were compared using the dice similarity index (DSI), Hausdroff distance and variation in the centre of mass (COM). RESULTS: The mean DSI scores for brainstem was good irrespective of the anatomy matching scenarios. The scores for mandible, oral cavity, larynx, parotids, spinal cord, and trachea were unacceptable with poor matching but improved with enhanced bony matching whereas cervical oesophagus and pharyngeal muscles had less than acceptable scores for even perfect matching scenario. HD value and variation in COM decreased with better matching for all the structures. CONCLUSION: Improved anatomy matching resulted in better segmentation. At least a similar setup can help generate an acceptable set of automatic contours in systems employing single atlas method. Automatic contours from average matching scenario were acceptable for most structures. Importance should be given to head and neck position during atlas generation for a single atlas based system.
Brain Stem ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Head ; Humans ; Larynx ; Mandible ; Methods ; Mouth ; Neck ; Organs at Risk ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; Radiotherapy ; Spinal Cord ; Trachea

The prevalence of people presenting with fish bone foreign body (FFB) is high in Asian countries, including Korea, and coastal areas around the world. Pointed linear-shaped FFBs are common in the oral cavity and upper esophageal sphincter, whereas large flat bones are more common FFBs in the esophagus. If the FFB is not found on endoscopy, residual foreign body sensation or embedded FFB is possible. In such cases, CT is helpful. However, in the case of totally embedded FFB, not only preoperative diagnosis but also localization during operation or surgery is important. If these are not performed, the initial incision site or operation method would be difficult to determine. For this purpose, no standard guideline has been established yet. We report a case of upper esophageal sphincter-embedded FFB diagnosed using CT rather than endoscopy. The bone was successfully localized using conventional ultrasonography during the operation and then removed surgically.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Mouth ; Pharynx ; Prevalence ; Sensation ; Ultrasonography

An anterior cervical osteophyte is one of the causes of dysphagia. Surgical treatment is one of the treatment options available, and previous studies have suggested that it is an immediate and effective treatment. This paper reports a case of temporarily aggravated dysphagia after surgical treatment in a patient with anterior cervical osteophyte. A 75-year-old male complained of dysphagia for one year. A videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) revealed anterior cervical osteophytes at the C3 and C4 level, which resulted in decreased epiglottic folding and partial obstruction of the bolus passage. After he underwent osteophytectomy and anterior fixation, the post-operative VFSS showed an aggravation of dysphagia with prevertebral soft tissue edema. The major cause of dysphagia was attributed to the limitation of movement of the posterior pharyngeal wall and upper esophageal sphincter due to the increased prevertebral soft tissue thickness. In conclusion, surgery should be considered when a severe dysphagia is persistent after adequate conservative treatment in patients with dysphagia due to anterior cervical osteophytes, and patients at high risk of postoperative dysphagia might require swallowing rehabilitation.
Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Edema ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Osteophyte ; Rehabilitation

Although dysphagia is an important health problem and one of the determinants of quality of life in patients with dementia, the neurophysiologic changes of dysphagia in dementia have not been fully uncovered, yet. we investigated the changes of strength of tongue lip and pharyngeal muscles in patients with dementia. This study included 30 subjects with dementia. In all subjects, clinical assessments consisted of the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) for tongue and lip, surface electromyography (sEMG) with Vital stim plus on suprahyoid muscles, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scales. All subjects were classified into 3 groups according to severity; CDR 1, 2, and 3. There was no difference between IOPI and sEMG among all 3 groups. The values of tongue and lip IOPI from all 3 dementia groups were significantly lower than values of control. The comparisons for values of tongue and lip IOPI among 3 dementia group were not different from each other. The sEMG of suprahyoid muscles were not different between all 3 dementia groups and control. These findings are supportive of dysphagia therapy for oral phase would be beneficial for the restoration of swallowing function in patients with dementia and dysphagia.
Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dementia ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Iowa ; Lip ; Muscles ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; Quality of Life ; Tongue ; Weights and Measures

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very common disease, and the prevalence in the general population has recently increased. GERD is a chronic relapsing disease associated with motility disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Several factors are implicated in GERD, including hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter, frequent transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, esophageal hypersensitivity, reduced resistance of the esophageal mucosa against the refluxed contents, ineffective esophageal motility, abnormal bolus transport, deficits initiating secondary peristalsis, abnormal response to multiple rapid swallowing, and hiatal hernia. One or more of these mechanisms result in the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, delayed clearance of the refluxate, and the development of symptoms and/or complications. New techniques, such as 24-hour pH and multichannel intraluminal impedance monitoring, multichannel intraluminal impedance and esophageal manometry, high-resolution manometry, 3-dimensional high-resolution manometry, enoscopic functional luminal imaging probe, and 24-hour dynamic esophageal manometry, provide more information on esophageal motility and have clarified the pathophysiology of GERD. Proton pump inhibitors remain the preferred pharmaceutical option to treat GERD. The ideal target of GERD treatment is to restore esophageal motility and reconstruct the anti-reflux mechanism. This review focuses on current advances in esophageal motor dysfunction in patients with GERD and the influence of these developments on GERD treatment.
Deglutition ; Electric Impedance ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Hernia, Hiatal ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypersensitivity ; Manometry ; Mucous Membrane ; Peristalsis ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Phenobarbital ; Prevalence ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Relaxation ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

The known causes of dysphagia following cervical spine surgery include pre-vertebral soft tissue swelling, decreased posterior pharyngeal movement, and impaired upper esophageal sphincter opening. Some studies have suggested that dysphagia is associated with movement of the cervical vertebrae during swallowing. In the present case, a 59-year-old man with a limited cervical range of motion due to ankylosing spondylitis slipped and fell, resulting in a C7 vertebral body fracture. He underwent anterior cervical discectomy as well as C5-T1 anterior fusion and C5-T2 level postero-lateral fusion. After surgery, he showed signs and symptoms of aspiration. A video-fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) revealed incomplete laryngeal elevation, cricopharyngeal dysfunction, and vallecular remnant. Aspiration was observed in the semisolid-swallowing test. The patient's dysphagia could be attributed to two main causes. First, the esophagus might have been compressed by thickened pre-vertebral soft tissue after surgery. Second, the cervical range of motion, which was already limited by ankylosing spondylitis, might have been limited further by the anterior fusion of the cervical spine. In conclusion, a preoperative evaluation, including VFSS, should be considered before cervical spinal surgery, particularly in patients with ankylosing spondylitis presenting with a limited cervical range of motion.
Cervical Vertebrae ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Diskectomy ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Spine ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The main treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) includes life style modification and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication. However, LPRD is sometimes refractory to PPI medication. The Reza band has been developed to exert external pressure on the upper esophageal sphincter thus preventing gastric acid reflux to the larynx and pharynx. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of using the Reza band in patients with LPRD. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We prospectively enrolled 16 LPRD patients who were refractory to PPI medication and who had agreed to wear the Reza band. Patients were treated with the Reza band and PPI medication simultaneously or only the Reza band. We studied complications related to the Reza band, analyzed Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Score (RFS) before and after the application of the band up to 12 weeks. RESULTS: The Reza band was endured by 15 patients except one patient. One patient (6.25%) ceased wearing the band due to pain and discomfort in the neck. No major complications occurred, except one patient who reported mild neck discomfort when the band was applied. The mean value of RSI before the application of the Reza band was 12.31±6.43, which significantly improved at 8 weeks and 12 weeks (9.17±5.08, p=0.005 and 8.20±5.59, p=0.007, respectively) post-treatment. The mean value of RFS before the application of the Reza band was 13.50±2.97, which significantly improved at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks (p < 0.05) post-treatment. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the Reza band is safe and effective for the treatment of LPRD in properly selected patients.
Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux* ; Larynx ; Life Style ; Methods ; Neck ; Pharynx ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pumps

The objective of this preliminary study is to investigate the effects of various head turn in hemiplegic stroke patients with pharyngeal dysphagia. Twenty hemiplegic stroke patients with dysphagia participated in this study. A patient with dysphagia from an upper esophageal sphincter disorder was excluded. All participants underwent a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) with a 3 mL liquid diet, and their heads were randomly turned to a neutral position, toward the weaker side, toward the stronger side, or to a chin tuck posture. To assess patient swallowing function with VFSS, the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) and penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) were conducted by a physiatrist blinded to the participant's characteristics. No significant improvements in the VDS and PAS were observed in patients with heads rotated toward the weaker or stronger side when compared with heads in the neutral position. However, there was a significant improvement in the VDS for heads in the chin tuck position when compared with those in the neutral position (p < 0.05). These preliminary results revealed that the head turn practice without VFSS, as a compensatory strategy, could not improve dysphagia in hemiplegic stroke patients. Therefore, compensatory postures might be re-considered with in hemiplegic stroke patients with pharyngeal dysphagia.
Chin ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Diet ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; Head* ; Humans ; Posture ; Stroke*

Killian-Jamieson diverticulum is a permanent protrusion of anterolateral proximal esophagus through anatomically weak muscular gap, known as Killian-Jamieson area, into adjacent area. During a routine educational dissection, we found a well-defined lateral diverticulum just inferior to the transverse fibers of the cricopharyngeus muscle in a Korean male cadaver. It had a dimension of 1.8×1.4×1.0 cm with two types of epithelial cells, stratified squamous and simple cuboidal to low-columnar epithelium, and attenuated and haphazardly arranged muscle fibers. No epithelial dysplasia or malignant transformation was identified except ulcerative changes. Although Killian-Jamieson diverticulum is a very rare disease, clinicopathological aspects should be considered.
Cadaver* ; Diverticulum* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Male ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; Rare Diseases ; Ulcer