Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2012; 18(14): 1695-1699
Published online Apr 14, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i14.1695
High resolution impedance manometric findings in dysphagia of Huntington’s disease
Tae Hee Lee, Joon Seong Lee, Wan Jung Kim
Tae Hee Lee, Joon Seong Lee, Wan Jung Kim, Institute for Digestive Research, Soon Chun Hyang College of Medicine, Seoul 140-743, South Korea
Author contributions: Lee TH and Lee JS contributed equally to this work; Lee TH collected the data and drafted the paper; Lee JS edited the paper; Kim WJ reviewed the data analysis and modified the research design.
Correspondence to: Joon Seong Lee, MD, PhD, Professor, Institute for Digestive Research, Soon Chun Hyang College of Medicine, 657 Hannam-Dong, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul 140-743, South Korea. drjslee@dreamwiz.com
Telephone: +82-2-7099691 Fax: +82-2-7099696
Received: October 21, 2011
Revised: December 5, 2011
Accepted: December 31, 2011
Published online: April 14, 2012
Abstract

Conventional manometry presents significant challenges, especially in assessment of pharyngeal swallowing, because of the asymmetry and deglutitive movements of oropharyngeal structures. It only provides information about intraluminal pressure and thus it is difficult to study functional details of esophageal motility disorders. New technology of solid high resolution impedance manometry (HRIM), with 32 pressure sensors and 6 impedance sensors, is likely to provide better assessment of pharyngeal swallowing as well as more information about esophageal motility disorders. However, the clinical usefulness of application of HRIM in patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia or esophageal dysphagia is not known. We experienced a case of Huntington’s disease presenting with both oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia, in which HRIM revealed the mechanism of oropharyngeal dysphagia and provided comprehensive information about esophageal dysphagia.

Keywords: Dysphagia; Esophagus; High resolution impedance manometry; Huntington’s disease; Oropharynx