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Exploring the Use of the Current Perception Threshold in Pharyngeal Paresthesia Patients

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Abstract

To explore pharyngeal sensory function by current perception threshold (CPT) measurement in paresthetic pharynx. In total, 58 healthy participants and 66 patients with pharyngeal paresthetic symptoms underwent CPT evaluation. Pharyngeal paresthesia (n = 66) was classified into three categories based on aetiologies: six cases with pain in pharynx; 34 neuropathic patients with glossopharyngeal nerve and/or vagus nerve or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury; and 26 patients with globus pharyngeus. CPT measurements were obtained from bilateral palatoglossal arch and tongue base at 2000, 250 and 5 Hz stimulation frequencies. Ranked from high to low, the CPT values for the bilateral palatoglossal arches and tongue bases were: lower cranial neuropathic patients, globus pharyngeus, healthy participants and patients with pain. The CPT values for neuropathic patients on the injured side were significantly higher than those on the healthy side (P < 0.05). The CPT values for patients with pain in pharynx were significantly lower than those of healthy participants (P < 0.05) when the bilateral tongue bases were stimulated. The CPT measurement is a reliable method for quantitatively assessing pharyngeal sensory function and able to differentiate pharyngeal paresthesia between lower cranial neuropathic and subjective discomfort. Pharyngeal sensory function is more sensitive in patients with pain in pharynx. Pharyngeal sensory function is significantly reduced in lower cranial neuropathic patients, especially on the injured side. Patients with globus pharyngeus have pharyngeal hyposensitivity.

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Data Availability

The data and material analysed during the study are available.

Code Availability

IBM SPSS Statistics, version 25.0.

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Author notes

  1. Liu Xuelai and Li Xueyan have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education, 1 Dongjiaominxiang, Beijing, 100730, China

    Liu Xuelai, Li Xueyan & Xu Wen

  2. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China

    Liu Xuelai

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  1. Liu Xuelai
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  2. Li Xueyan
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  3. Xu Wen
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Correspondence to Xu Wen.

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Ethical Approval

The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University and informed consents were obtained from all participants. The ethical review and approval number is TRECKY2018-061.

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Xuelai, L., Xueyan, L. & Wen, X. Exploring the Use of the Current Perception Threshold in Pharyngeal Paresthesia Patients. Dysphagia 37, 1431–1439 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-021-10401-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-021-10401-5

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