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Cricopharyngeal Bar

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Principles of Deglutition

Abstract

A cricopharyngeal bar on lateral radiographs of barium swallows is noted in some of patients who undergo pharyngeal and esophageal radiographic examination. Reduced compliance by fibrosis has been the explanation for the bar. The bolus flow through the upper esophageal sphincter is the same as that observed in healthy subjects. The increased resistance to flow markedly raises the forces required to drive bolus passage. The intrabolus pressure in the hypopharynx of these patients is higher than in healthy subjects. The increase in intrabolus pressure depends on the distended pharyngoesophageal segment during swallows, with a more significant increase associated with a smaller upper esophageal sphincter diameter and an increase of bolus volume. Most of the time, cricopharyngeal bar is an unexpected and incidental observation on an esophageal radiologic examination. The bar may not cause symptoms, but when it is present dysphagia is the most frequent complaint. However, the cause of dysphagia may be pharyngeal and esophageal motor abnormalities and not the cricopharyngeal bar, a possibility that should be investigated. If the patient has dysphagia, he should be investigated by radiologic, endoscopic and manometric examinations. The treatment involves some options, as surgery, dilatation or botulin toxin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Roberto Oliveira Dantas MD

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  1. Roberto Oliveira Dantas MD
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Correspondence to Roberto Oliveira Dantas MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Div. Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, West Wisconsin Avenue 9200, Milwaukee, 53226, Wisconsin, USA

    Reza Shaker

  2. , Dpt Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surg., UC Davis Medical Center, Stockton Blvd. 2521, Sacramento, 95817, California, USA

    Peter C. Belafsky

  3. Ctr for Voice, Airway & Swallowing Disor, Department of Otolaryngology, Georgia Health Sciences University, 15th Street 1120, Augusta, 30912, Georgia, USA

    Gregory N. Postma

  4. , Dpt of Communication Sciences & Disorder, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, East Hartford Ave 2400, Milwaukee, 53201, Wisconsin, USA

    Caryn Easterling

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Dantas, R.O. (2013). Cricopharyngeal Bar. In: Shaker, R., Belafsky, P., Postma, G., Easterling, C. (eds) Principles of Deglutition. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3794-9_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3794-9_36

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3793-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3794-9

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