title: Cricopharyngeal dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: role in dysphagia and response to myotomy.
abstract: We report five patients with Parkinson's disease and dysphagia who were found, by radiological and manometric evaluation, to have evidence of cricopharyngeal dysfunction, which included the presence of a Zenker's diverticulum in two. Cricopharyngeal myotomy was performed in four patients with excellent and sustained improvement in swallowing. We conclude that cricopharyngeal function should be carefully evaluated in patients with Parkinson's disease and dysphagia and that surgical treatment should be considered in appropriate cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-2000, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Born
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Harned
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Rikkers
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Quigley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016672:Zenker Diverticulum / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery