Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0014848 (achalasia)
 2,804 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Deglutition is a complex neuromuscular act. Alterations in anatomy and physiology may lead to dysphagia. The role of the cricopharyngeus appears to be the keystone in the rehabilitation of many patients with dysphagia. This paper examines the physiology of swallowing as well as the patho-physiology of its abberations. Techniques and complications of cricopharyngeal myotomy are presented. Cases of dysphagia due to ablative surgery of the head and neck, dermatomyositis, cerebrovascular accidents, and cricopharyngeal achalasia in which cricopharyngeal myotomy was utilized, are reported. It would appear from this small number of cases, that cricopharyngeal myotomy is indicated in the rehabilitation of dysphagia in patients with varied disease states.
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PMID:Cricopharyngeal myotomy in the treatment of dysphagia. 119 69

Three adults, 2 of whom had polymyositis and 1 with dermatomyositis, developed dysphagia during the course of their illness. Results of esophageal manometry supplemented with esophageal radiography indicated the presence of cricopharyngeal achalasia. Because of the severity of this disorder, which is associated with aspiration of esophageal contents into the airways, surgery to divide the cricopharyngeal musculature was performed in 2 patients, giving complete relief of their symptoms. Prednisone dosage was not increased to treat this condition since it arose not from weakness but from obstruction. A biopsy specimen taken from 1 patient demonstrated inflammatory changes in the obstructing muscle. A review of these 3 patients and 3 previously reported cases indicates that cricopharyngeal obstruction can be a dominant cause of dysphagia in patients with myositis. The recognition of this entity is important in the management of patients with myositis because: it has serious and potentially life-threatening implications; and in certain cases, it can be effectively treated with surgery.
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PMID:Cricopharyngeal obstruction in inflammatory myopathy (polymyositis/dermatomyositis). Report of three cases and review of the literature. 400 73