The causes of dysphagia
Oropharyngeal dysphagia can be caused by:
- Central neurological disorders such as stroke, brainstem tumours or degenerative diseases (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, MND, multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease)
- Peripheral neurological disorders including peripheral neuropathy, poliomyelitis and syphilis
- Systemic disorders such as myasthenia gravis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis or muscular dystrophy
- Oropharyngeal lesions including cricopharyngeal achalasia, tumours, inflammatory masses, Zenker’s diverticulum, extrinsic structural lesions, cervical spondylosis etc.
Oesophageal dysphagia can be caused by:
- Achalasia
- Spastic motor disorders, such as diffuse oesophageal spasm, hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter and nutcracker oesophagus
- Scleroderma
- Obstructive lesions, such as tumours, strictures, lower oesophageal rings (Schatzki rings), oesophageal webs, foreign bodies, vascular compression and mediastinal masses
Dysphagia due to diseases in mouth and tongue:
- E.g. Oral candidiasis
[Source: 100 cases in Radiology, case no. 4]
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