Title: Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction (R-CPD) - Laryngopedia
Headings: Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction (R-CPD)
Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction (R-CPD)
Photos of the cricopharyngeus muscle:
R-CPD and esophageal dilation: Series of 3  photos
Esophageal Findings: Series of 3  photos
Abdominal Distention of R-CPD: Series of 3  photos

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Esophageal Findings: Series of 3  photos
Esophageal Findings (1 of 3)
A view of the mid-esophagus in a young person (early 30’s). The esophagus is kept open by the patient’s un-burped air. Note the “aortic shelf” at A, delineated by dotted lines
Esophageal Findings (2 of 3)
A moment later, additional air is pushed upwards from the stomach to dilate the mid-esophagus even more. A bony “spur” in the spine is thrown into high relief by the stretched esophagus. Esophageal Findings (3 of 3)
A view of the upper esophagus (from just below the cricopharyngeus muscle sphincter) shows what appears to be remarkable lateral dilation (arrows) caused over time by the patient’s … read more
unburpable air. Dilation can only occur laterally due to confinement of the esophagus by trachea (anteriorly) and spine (posteriorly), as marked. read less
Abdominal Distention of R-CPD: Series of 3  photos
Gastric Air Bubble (1 of 3)
This abdominal xray of an individual with R-CPD shows a remarkably large gastric air bubble (dotted line), and also excessive air in transverse (T) and descending (D) colon. All of this … read more
extra air can cause abdominal distention that increases as the day progresses.