The width of the pharyngo-esophageal junction area.
In order to elucidate the pharyngo-esophageal segment in normal and abnormal conditions the width of the pharyngo-esophageal junction area on three different levels: hypopharynx, infracricoid segment of the cervical esophagus (ICCO) and cervical esophagus was measured in 150 non-dysphagial volunteers and in 252 dysphagial patients examined with cineradiography during barium swallowing. The result indicates that a narrow ICCO in absolute figures reflects the size of the swallowed bolus and is not a predictor of pharyngeal abnormality, per se. However, when the width of the ICCO in a.p. projection is less than 3/4 of the width in lateral projection this can indicate a narrow ICCO and should lead to endoscopy for further evaluation.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002933:Cineradiography; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D001466:Barium Sulfate