Lateral pharyngeal wall motion analysis using ultrasonography in stroke patients with dysphagia

We aimed to analyze lateral pharyngeal wall (LPW) motion using ultrasonography. The subjects were stroke patients with dysphagia (n = 26) and normal controls (n = 15). The stroke patients were divided into two groups based on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). Group A (n = 12) had a penetration or aspiration in VFSS findings, while group B (n = 14) had no evidence of a penetration or aspiration. We assessed LPW motion using B/M-mode ultrasonography. We performed the comparative analysis among each group and the relationship between LPW motion parameters and the VFSS parameters of the pharyngeal phase. The mean LPW displacement of group A, B was significantly decreased than that of normal controls. The mean LPW duration of group A, B was increased than that of normal controls, but not statistically significant. The mean LPW displacement of group A was significantly correlated with the residue in valleculae, pharyngeal delay time and laryngeal elevation, but that of group B was not significantly correlated. The mean LPW duration of group A, B was not significantly correlated with the VFSS parameters of the pharyngeal phase. We suggest that LPW motion analysis could be a useful alternative method for the evaluation of the pharyngeal phase in stroke patients with a penetration or aspiration in VFSS findings.