[Value of pharyngography in the diagnostic staging program of pharyngeal tumors]

The role of barium pharyngograms in the pre- and post-therapeutic evaluation of pharyngeal tumors is described. The intralumenal part of the tumor is well shown by high spatial and contrast resolution of the pharyngeal mucosa. Barium pharyngogram is the only imaging method which can record the course of the swallowing act at the pharyngeal level. Post-operatively, barium pharyngography reliably demonstrates altered pharyngeal morphology; fibrotic stenoses may be distinguished from narrowing due to recurrence. The result of primary radiotherapy is easy to document.