Title: Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction | Columbia University Medical Center Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Headings: Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction
Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction
Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction
What is cricopharyngeal dysfunction?
How is cricopharyngeal dysfunction diagnosed?
How is cricopharyngeal dysfunction treated?
What is the outlook for people with cricopharyngeal dysfunction?
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Content: In people with cricopharyngeal dysfunction, the muscle doesn’t relax, and the food is blocked from passing into the esophagus. They generally have a harder time swallowing solid foods than liquids because liquids flow more easily through the limited opening in the sphincter. The problem tends to progress gradually and slowly over time, and people with cricopharyngeal dysfunction may limit their diet to only very soft foods such as pasta or pureed foods. In severe cases, those with this disorder change their diet so drastically that they lose a lot of weight. Cricopharyngeal dysfunction is also called upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction or cricopharyngeal achalasia. How is cricopharyngeal dysfunction diagnosed? Physicians diagnose cricopharyngeal dysfunction using a number of means. A visual examination of the back of a patient’s throat will often reveal a small amount of food or saliva pooled there. They also use the following diagnostic tests: Esophageal Manometry: