title: Videofluoroscopic swallowing study: esophageal alterations in patients with dysphagia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Videofluoroscopic swallowing study is a dynamic exam and allows the evaluation of the complete swallowing process. However, most published studies have only reported alterations in the oropharynx and pharyngoesophageal transition, leaving the analysis of the esophagus as a secondary goal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alterations in the esophageal phase thorough videofluoroscopic swallowing study in patients with dysphagia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with dysphagia who underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing study including esophageal analysis between May 2010 and May 2012 had their exams retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified into two groups: Group I - without a pre-established etiological diagnosis and Group II - with neurological disease. During the exam, the patients ingested three different consistencies of food (liquid, pasty and solid) contrasted with barium sulfate and 19 items were analyzed according to a protocol. The esophageal phase was considered abnormal when one of the evaluated items was compromised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and thirty-three (n = 333) consecutive patients were studied - 213 (64%) in Group I and 120 (36%) in Group II. Esophageal alterations were found in 104 (31%) patients, with a higher prevalence in Group I (36.2%), especially on the items esophageal clearance (16.9%) and tertiary contractions (16.4%). It was observed that 12% of individuals in Group I only presented alterations on the esophageal phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluation of the esophageal phase of swallowing during videofluoroscopic swallowing study detects abnormalities in patients with cervical dysphagia, especially in the group without pre-established etiological diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação de Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Betina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scheeren
authors.affiliation: Fonoaudiologia, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Antônio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação de Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Gabriel Silva de
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014743:Videotape Recording