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: Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction | Columbia University Medical Center Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery





Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction
Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction
What is cricopharyngeal dysfunction? The esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat and the stomach, has a muscular sphincter at its upper end that controls the passage of food into the stomach. This upper esophageal sphincter (UES)—also called the cricopharyngeus—is a semi-circular muscle located in the neck about three inches below the Adam’s apple. To prevent the reflux of foods from the esophagus into the throat, the cricopharyngeus remains contracted and tight at most times. When a person swallows, though, it relaxes and allows food to pass through. 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.