Radiologic evaluation of the oral stage of swallowing

The oral stage of swallowing was radiologically evaluated in 19 patients with swallowing complaints. Eight patients had had surgical resection and reconstruction due to tumours of the tongue, floor of the mouth or mandible. Eleven patients had suffered from cerebrovascular disease. All patients had incoordination of tongue movements including defective initiation of pharyngeal swallow. In patients who had undergone surgical resection, oral dysfunction correlated with the extension of resection as well as type of reconstruction, and was more profound compared with the disorder present in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Moreover, muscular derangement due to surgery of the floor of the mouth interfered with the elevation of the hyoid bone, larynx and pharynx and thereby the pharyngeal stage of swallowing also became abnormal. Cineradiography seems to be an appropriate method for evaluation of the oral stage of swallowing in patients with deglutition complaints.