Volume-dependent pulmonary aspiration of a swallowed radionuclide bolus

The radionuclide salivagram was introduced as a simple physiologic technique to document the aspiration of saliva in patients with chronic lung disease. We previously reported positive studies to be prevalent in patients with neuromuscular incoordination, as with cerebral palsy, or after surgery involving the upper airway. Many patients referred for a salivagram, however, have an apparent intact swallowing mechanism and are better challenged with a tagged bolus.