HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bleck, T. P. Articles by Shannon, K. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bleck, T. P. Articles by Shannon, K. M.

Disordered swallowing due to a syrinx

Correction by shunting

From the Departments of Neurological Sciences (Drs. Bleck and Shannon) and Internal Medicine (Dr. Bleck), Rush Medical College, 600 S. Paulina Street, Chicago.

Disturbed deglutition is common in diseases of the brainstem and lower cranial nerves, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. We studied a 49-year-old man with symptoms of syringomyelia and syringobulbia lasting 7 years. Esophageal motility studies showed inability to initiate swallowing, esophageal hypomotility, and absence of the lower esophageal sphincter. After decompression of the syrinx by shunting, these abnormalities were corrected, and the patient could once again eat without aspiration. Medullary dysfunction caused by the syrinx was probably responsible for the swallowing difficulties.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Bleck, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Medical College, 600 S. Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612.

Presented in part at the thirty-fifth annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, San Diego, CA, April 1983.

Accepted for publication March 20,1984.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Nogues Gastrointestinal symptoms in syringomyelia and syringobulbia Neurology, January 1, 1999; 52(2): 432 - 432. [Full Text]

				J. Hughes, P. Enderby, and R. L. Hewer Dysphagia and multiple sclerosis: a study and discussion of its nature and impact Clinical Rehabilitation, February 1, 1994; 8(1): 18 - 26. [Abstract] [PDF]