AJR Women's Imaging Online
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Strasser, G.
Right arrow Articles by Denk, D.-M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Strasser, G.
Right arrow Articles by Denk, D.-M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
AJR 2000; 174:449-453
© American Roentgen Ray Society

Cervical Osteophytes Impinging on the Pharynx

Importance of Size and Concurrent Disorders for Development of Aspiration

G. Strasser1, W. Schima1, E. Schober1, P. Pokieser1, A. Kaider2 and D.-M. Denk3

1 Department of Radiology and Ludwig Boltzmann-Institute for Radiologic Tumor Research, University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
2 Department of Medical Computer Sciences, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
3 Department of Otolaryngology, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.

OBJECTIVE. This study evaluated the clinical significance of cervical osteophytes impinging on the pharynx in patients with dysphagia and the importance of concurrent disorders that may affect swallowing function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. On videofluoroscopy, anterior cervical osteophytes were found in 55 (32 men, 23 women; mean age, 69 years) of 3318 patients with dysphagia (1.7%). Coexisting diseases that affected swallowing function were found in 28 patients (stroke, n = 7; thyroidectomy, n = 7; tongue base or laryngeal cancer surgery, n = 5; other diseases, n = 9). Swallowing function was assessed with videofluoroscopy evaluating epiglottic tilting, laryngeal closure, impression of the hypopharynx, pharyngeal residue, and aspiration.

RESULTS. With advancing age, the probability of aspiration (odds ratio, 1.07; p < 0.05) and of enlarging osteophytes (odds ratio, 1.26; p < 0.01) increased; the probability was higher for osteophytes at more than one vertebrae (odds ratio, 8.00; p < 0.01) and for concurrent diseases (odds ratio, 8.02; p < 0.01). Aspiration was found in 75% of patients with osteophytes larger than 10 mm and in 34% with osteophytes smaller than or equal to 10 mm. In 88% of patients with small osteophytes who aspirated, other diseases affected swallowing function.

CONCLUSION. Aspiration is common in patients with dysphagia and cervical osteophytes larger than 10 mm. Aspiration is rare in patients with osteophytes smaller than or equal to 10 mm unless these patients suffer from other disorders that may affect swallowing.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2000 by the American Roentgen Ray Society.