title: Ultrasound analysis of the upper esophageal sphincter during swallowing in the healthy subject.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology and standard settings for ultrasound study of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) during swallowing.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study of 25 healthy volunteers (15 women and 10 men) aged 20 to 56 years. Neck ultrasonography was performed as each volunteer swallowed 10 mL of water three times. The parameters studied were: diameter of the closed UES; diameter of the open UES; anterior and lateral displacement (measured in cm) of the UES as the water bolus flowed through it; duration of UES opening; and average duration of UES displacement (measured in ms). Student's t tests for paired and unpaired samples were applied for the statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean diameter of the closed UES was 0.78 ± 0.13 cm, while the mean duration of opening was 415 ± 57.66 ms and the mean duration of displacement was 937 ± 120.98 ms. Maximum anterior and lateral displacement of the UES was 0.42 ± 0.12 cm and 0.35 ± 0.18 cm, respectively. There was a significant difference between men and women for lateral displacement of the UES (P=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study established standards for ultrasound study of the UES during swallowing, using a non-invasive readily accessible method that may be useful for assessing swallowing disorders involving the UES (Zenker's diverticulum, fibrosis, stricture).
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale, CHU Bretonneau, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France; Unité Inserm 930 équipe 5 (De la maturation à la dégénérescence : exploration par ultrason), faculté de médecine de Tours, université François-Rabelais, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France. Electronic address: moriniere@med.univ-tours.fr.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morinière
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hammoudi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marmouset
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bakhos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beutter
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Patat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D049631:Esophageal Sphincter, Upper / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Neck ultrasound; Sonography; Swallowing; Upper esophageal sphincter