Oropharyngeal swallowing in craniocervical dystonia.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the pathophysiology of dysphagia by electrophysiological methods.


METHODS
Electrophysiological methods related to oropharyngeal swallowing were used to investigate 25 patients with cervical dystonia and 25 age matched normal volunteers.


RESULTS
Dysphagia was suspected in 36% of patients with cervical dystonia on the basis of clinical assessment. The incidence of dysphagia increased to 72% on electrophysiological evaluation of pharyngeal swallowing. Submental muscle electromyographic (EMG) and laryngeal relocation times were significantly prolonged and the triggering time to swallowing reflex was significantly delayed. Some abnormalities seen in cricopharyngeal sphincter muscle EMG indicated that the striated sphincter muscle is hyperreflexive in some patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurogenic dysphagia was more prominent and longer lasting than mechanical dysphagia, which was transient and varied from patient to patient. Although these electrophysiological methods were not suitable for detecting anatomical changes during swallowing, as in videofluoroscopic studies, observations supported the neurogenic cause of dysphagia in patients with any kind of cervical dystonia.
Ertekin
C
C
Department of Neurology, Ege University Medical School Hospital, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. erteker@unimedya.net.tr
Aydogdu
I
I
Seçil
Y
Y
Kiylioglu
N
N
Tarlaci
S
S
Ozdemirkiran
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004421:Dystonia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014103:Torticollis / Q000150:complications*