Spasm of the Cricopharyngeal Muscle as Cause of Dysphagia After Total Laryngectomy

Abstract

In this communication an often insufficiently recognized cause of dysphagia will be discussed with special emphasis on its occurrence after laryngeal surgery. The disorder under consideration is characterized by a narrowing of the cervical esophagus and caused by a spasm of the cricopharyngeal muscle. The literature contains several contributions dealing with the various anatomical, roentgenographic, and clinical points of interest, which in only rare instances, however, consider the incidence of cricopharyngeal spasm after total laryngectomy.^1-23 <h3>Material</h3> The records and roentgenograms of all patients who in a period ranging from Jan. 1, 1955, to Oct. 31, 1956, had undergone surgery for malignant neoplasms of the intrinsic and extrinsic larynx were collected from the files of Roswell Park Memorial Institute, yielding a total of 49 patients. The various operations included 2 laryngofissures, 20 total laryngectomies, 22 combined total laryngectomy-radical neck resections, and 5 combined total laryngectomy-partial pharyngectomy-radical neck resections. Only patients