title: Topographic description of an alternative insertion technique for percutaneous approach of cricopharyngeus muscle electromyography: a cadaveric and clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cricopharyngeus is the only muscle for which electromyography is used in the differential diagnosis of swallowing disorders. Because of some practical difficulties, electrophysiologic tests for this muscle are not performed routinely. Thus we aimed to describe an alternative topographic way to reach the muscle easily.
  
  
  METHODS
  On 10 cadavers, a spinal needle (20 G) and on 37 patients a concentric needle electrode (26 G) were used. The needle was inserted percutaneous at the level of the superior border of the cricoid cartilage, anterior to the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle at 60 degrees angle to the frontal plane in the posteromedial direction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reached the muscle in all cadavers. In all of the patients, the needle entered the muscle on the first attempt; that was confirmed by electromyographic responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that this method can be useful for the practical application of cricopharyngeus muscle electromyography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Cerrahapasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Salih Murat
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Akkin
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Alkan
authors.forename: Ozgür
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yigit
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adatepe
authors.forename: Mehmet Selman
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koebke
authors.forename: Nurten
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uzun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000502:physiology*