Digital cineradiographic study of swallowing in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of digital cineradiography in detecting swallowing disorders in dysphagic patients affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with a view to planning an adequate therapeutic approach.


METHODS
From January 2005 to September 2006, 23 patients (10 men and 13 women; mean age 41.3+/-8.6 years) affected by ALS were evaluated with digital cineradiography to assess the grade of dysphagia. All patients were classified using the Hillel ALS Severity Scale (ALSSS). All examinations were performed with radiocontrolled equipment provided with a digital C-arm.


RESULTS
The cineradiographic technique enabled us to differentiate patients with disorders of the oral (17/23) and/or pharyngeal (19/23) swallowing phase from those without swallowing dysfunction (4/23). In 14/23 patients, passage of contrast medium into the upper airways was observed during swallowing, whereas in 5/23 cases, aspiration of contrast medium into the lower airways was recorded.


CONCLUSIONS
The videofluoroscopic swallowing study has high diagnostic capabilities in the evaluation of swallowing disorders, as it is able to identify the degree and causes of impairment. In addition, the study proved useful for planning speech therapy and for follow-up in patients with ALS.
Lo Re
G
G
Sezione di Scienze Radiologiche del Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Legale, via del Vespro 127, Palermo, Italy. giuseppe.lore12@tin.it
Galia
M
M
La Grutta
L
L
Russo
S
S
Runza
G
G
Taibbi
A
A
D'Agostino
T
T
Lo Greco
V
V
Bartolotta
T V
TV
Midiri
M
M
Cardinale
A E
AE
De Maria
M
M
Lagalla
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002933:Cineradiography; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged