title: Cine magnetic resonance imaging with single-shot fast spin echo for evaluation of dysphagia and aspiration.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of and interest in evaluation of swallowing using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (cine-MRI) in patients with dysphagia and aspiration caused by an abnormal pharyngeal phase of swallow. A cohort of six patients previously treated for head and neck cancer with persistent dysphagia and/or aspiration were evaluated an average of 47 months after treatment. The morphology and mobility of the oral, oropharyngeal, and laryngeal structures were analyzed using cine-MRI using single-shot fast spin echo technology. The qualitative observations were compared with a clinical fiberoptic swallowing evaluation. Swallowing physiology was analyzable for dry (saliva) swallow in all patients. MRI was well-tolerated by all six patients and no clinical aspiration occurred during the MRI. In five of six cases, further information on the cause of dysphagia was obtained using cine-MRI compared with the clinical evaluation alone. In the remaining case, cine-MRI confirmed the clinical evaluation. Cine-MRI using the dry swallow technique is feasible and without risk in patients with clinical aspiration. Cine-MRI is complementary to clinical evaluation of swallowing in patients with an abnormal pharyngeal phase of swallowing resulting from treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif Cedex, France. hartl@igr.fr
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hartl
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kolb
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bretagne
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marandas
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sigal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity