Radiology of the pharynx and oesophagus in young adults.
The indication for and results of radiological examination of the pharynx in 195 young adults (83 men, 112 women; age 13-40 years) were analysed retrospectively. A total of 99 patients were examined because of a suspected foreign body. In only seven was a foreign body revealed; two patients had mucosal tears. Five other emergency examinations were normal. Eighty-seven patients were examined because of long-standing upper oesophageal dysphagia. One had a diverticulum in the pharyngooesophageal segment and another had oesophageal achalasia. Nineteen other patients had pharyngeal dysfunction. Eighteen patients were examined because of retrosternal pain on swallowing. One had a pedunculated pharyngeal cyst while two had pharyngeal dysfunction. The other examinations were normal. Our results show that a careful radiological examination of the pharyngeal function is of value in young adults with swallowing complaints. Even in acute dysphagia a foreign body is seldom revealed. In patients who had undergone cineradiography, 21 of 90 (23%) had some form of pharyngeal dysfunction which could account for the patients' symptoms.
Borgström
P S
PS
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Birch-Iensen
M
M
Ekberg
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies