Fluoroscopic Examination of Hypopharynx and Esophagus by Utilization of Video-tape Recording System

Abstract

The authors reported the results of fluoroscopic examination of the hypopharynx and esophagus in 163 cases during the past three years. A video-tape recording system was utilized to evaluate detailed pathological findings in the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus, and to judge whether the findings would be functional or organic. In the present paper, the purposes of fluoroscopic examination were to estimate extension of the lesion in 38 cases of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, to find causative diseases of 17 cases of recurrent nerve palsy, and to search pathological lesions in remaining 108 cases who complained of abnormal sensation of the throat and difficulty in swallowing and were not diagnosed laryngoscopically.Pathological lesions in the hypopharynx and esophagus were found in 58 (54%) of these 108 cases, and some of them had two lesions in both regions.The lesions were diagnosed as follows; cervical osteophyte including Forestier's disease in 16 cases, esophageal web including Plummer-Vinson's syndrome in 14, hypopharyngeal lateral pouch and diverticulum in 17, esophageal diverticulum including Zenker's diverticulum in 7, esophageal cancer in 6, cricopharyngeal achalasia in 4 and miscellaneous in 3. The recent concepts of cervical osteophyte, esophageal web and hypopharyngeal and esophageal diverticulum were briefly reviewed and discussed. Finally, the authors emphasized the importance of utilization of video-tape recording or cinematographical system for fluoroscopic examination of the hypopharynx and esophagus because a rapid passage of contrast medium is present during the second phase of swallowing.