Relationship between the size of neopharynx after laryngectomy and long-term swallowing function: an assessment by scintigraphy.

Abstract

To study the relationship between the size of neopharynx after total laryngectomy and long-term swallowing function by means of scintigraphy. The width of pharyngeal remnant was measured during surgery in 11 patients. Their swallowing function was assessed by scintigraphy 8 to 10 years after surgery. The width of pharyngeal remnant at its narrowest point in both relaxed and stretched state was measured during surgery. Postoperative scintigraphy data on swallowing were obtained and computed along 3 lines, (1) transit time through neopharynx, (2) percentage of bolus transferred, and (3) swallowing efficiency. The relationship between the 2 sets of data was analyzed by linear regression analysis. (1) No statistically significant relationship was found between the size of neopharynx and swallowing function. (2) All patients are clinically asymptomatic. The swallowing function is not affected by the size of the neopharynx in 11 patients with pharyngeal remnant width ranging from 3 to 8 cm (stretched).