title: The Value of Oro-Pharyngo-Esophageal Scintigraphy in the Management of Patients with Aspiration into the Tracheo-bronchial Tree and Consequent Dysphagia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tracheo-bronchial aspiration is the most invalidating condition which can happen to patients affected by dysphagia, especially when caused by central neurologic disorders; the associated pneumonia episodes represent the most frequent cause of death in these patients. Oro-pharyngo-esophageal scintigraphy (OPES) allows both functional imaging and semiquantitative evaluation of the subsequent phases of swallowing.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated by means of OPES a woman who had previously undergone high-dose external beam radiation therapy for a nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which determined tissue fibrosis and progressive dysphagia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this patient with dysphagia, OPES was a simple, inexpensive, noninvasive, and reliable technique that allowed to show the presence of bolus aspiration and quantified tracheobronchial aspirate.
authors.affiliation: Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.affiliation: Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duce
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose and Throat Audiology Phoniatrics Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fattori
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruschini
authors.affiliation: Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meniconi
authors.affiliation: Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raschillà
authors.affiliation: Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cocco
authors.affiliation: Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Locantore
authors.affiliation: Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guidoccio
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Santa Maria della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orsini
authors.affiliation: Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Massri
authors.affiliation: Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa and University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Duccio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Volterrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Rovigo, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubello
keywords: Dysphagia; inhalation into tracheobronchial tree; management of aspiration; oro-pharyngo-esophageal scintigraphy