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Antegrade Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction (A-CPD)

Antegrade cricopharyngeal dysfunction (A-CPD) is the failure of the tonically contracted upper esophageal sphincter to relax and open when one swallows. It is also known as cricopharyngeal achalasia. The cause is usually unknown.

The upper esophageal sphincter is also known as the cricopharyngeus muscle and is located at the lower level of the voicebox or larynx. This muscle is always contracted except at the moment of swallowing, when it relaxes briefly to let food or liquid pass through.

Symptoms and treatment for A-CPD

Typically, individuals with A-CPD first notice that pills or solid food begin to lodge at the level of the lower part of the larynx. The problem tends to progress inexorably, though often slowly, as the years pass, until the individual must limit himself or herself to liquid and soft foods.

Cricopharyngeal dysfunction is fully resolved through a straightforward surgical procedure (cricopharyngeal myotomy), performed through the mouth with the laser or, only occasionally, through a neck incision.

See also: Zenker’s diverticulum.

A-CPD, before, during, and after Myotomy.

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cricopharyngeus muscle

Non-relaxing cricopharyngeus muscle (1 of 4)

View of hypertrophied, non-relaxing cricopharyngeus muscle, and resultant narrowed entry into the esophagus, at arrows.
Suction cannula is being used to forcefully stretch open the esophageal orifice

Opening the esophageal orifice (2 of 4)

Suction cannula is being used to forcefully stretch open the esophageal orifice, by pressing posteriorly against the cricopharyngeus muscle.
Laser cricopharyngeus myotomy

Laser cricopharyngeus myotomy (3 of 4)

Laser cricopharyngeus myotomy in progress. Notice the horizontally-directed fibers of the cricopharyngeus muscle which are being transected. Red dot is aiming beam of the laser.
Cricopharyngeus myotomy nearly complete

Cricopharyngeus myotomy nearly complete (4 of 4)

Only a few fibers remain at arrow. Notice widely patent opening to esophagus resulting from myotomy.

The Cricopharyngeus Muscle Seen During Swallowing

This person struggles to swallow due to a combination of prior tongue cancer surgery decades ago, and longterm radiation effects.  Solid foods are the most problematic, and so this sequence shows an attempt to swallow water stained with blue food coloring.

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Panoramic view of the hypopharynx and larynx during breathing.

Swallowing crescent (1 of 5)

Panoramic view of the hypopharynx and larynx during breathing. E = epiglottis. Arrows point to the open vocal cords with triangular entrance to airway between them. Dotted line indicates the “swallowing crescent” including part of pyriform sinuses and post-arytenoid space.
Swallowing water

Swallowing water (2 of 5)

Blue-stained water is collected in the “swallowing crescent” and about to enter the upper esophagus. The larynx is closed anteriorly (lower photo). The V marks the same post-arytenoid location in subsequent photos.
Cricopharyngeus muscle

Cricopharyngeus muscle (3 of 5)

The larynx is coming forward, opening the way into the esophagus. The cricopharyngeus muscle is seen in the distance, marked with CPM.
relaxed sphincter

Relaxed CPM (4 of 5)

With the blue water now passed into the esophagus, the partially relaxed sphincter is seen more clearly, again marked CPM.
Partially open esophagus due to A-CPD

Partially open esophagus due to A-CPD (5 of 5)

A closer view, showing only partially open esophageal entrance because of antegrade cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction: it refuses to relax fully and this is part of the explanation for why this person cannot swallow solid foods through a less-than-half-opened sphincter.

Antegrade Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction, Before and After Myotomy

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Lateral x-ray of the neck while swallowing barium

Cricopharyngeal dysfunction: before myotomy (1 of 2)

Lateral x-ray of the neck while swallowing barium (seen as a dark column). The non-relaxing cricopharyngeus muscle (light-grey bulge outlined by a dotted line) is causing narrowing of the upper esophageal passageway, as highlighted by the narrowed stream of dark barium at that point (arrow). Liquids and very soft foods can squeak through this narrow opening, but solid foods tend to get stuck.
X-ray after myotomy

Cricopharyngeal dysfunction: after myotomy, resolved (2 of 2)

After myotomy. The surgically divided muscle can no longer narrow the upper esophageal passageway, as seen by the widened stream of dark barium at the level of the muscle (arrows).

Example 2

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VFSS of the neck while swallowing barium

Cricopharyngeal dysfunction: before myotomy (1 of 2)

Lateral x-ray of the neck while swallowing barium (the dark material seen here in the throat). The non-relaxing cricopharyngeus muscle (light-grey bulge outlined by a dotted line) is causing narrowing of the upper esophageal passageway, as highlighted by the narrowed stream of dark barium at that point (arrow). Liquids and very soft foods can squeak through this narrow opening, but solid foods tend to get stuck.
urgically divided muscle can no longer narrow the upper esophageal passageway

Cricopharyngeal dysfunction: after myotomy, resolved (1 of 2)

After myotomy. The surgically divided muscle can no longer narrow the upper esophageal passageway, as seen by the widened stream of dark barium at the level of the muscle (arrows).

Very High-pitched Voice Elicits the Same Pharynx Contraction as Swallowing

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pooling of secretions

Secretions (1 of 4)

This person has cricopharyngeus dysfunction–the “catcher” problem described in the teaching video “Swallowing Trouble 101.” One small indication in the first glimpse of the throat area is the pooling of secretions (here, mucus) in an “organized” fashion in the swallowing crescent right behind the larynx.
Contracted pharynx

Contracted pharynx (2 of 4)

As part of VESS part 1, assessment of the patient’s swallowing “equipment,” pharyngeal squeeze elicitation is always performed. Here the patient produces the highest pitch she can make on ” EEEE!” Note the major contraction of the pharynx as it “hugs” the larynx and closes the pyriform sinuses.
Cracker residue

Cracker residue (3 of 4)

After chewing and swallowing a cheese cracker, some residue remains in the vallecula and also in the swallowing crescent.
Pharyngeal walls

Pharyngeal walls (4 of 4)

As the patient swallows, the pharyngeal walls come to near-approximation from lateral to medial, just before the view is lost during the upheaval of the swallow.

Reflux Into Hypopharynx, Characteristic of Antegrade Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction

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Reflux into hypopharynx

Reflux into hypopharynx (1 of 3)

The patient has swallowing problems typical of cricopharyngeal dysfunction. This swallow study reinforces that impression as well as the likely presence of a Zenker’s diverticulum. In this photo, blue-stained water has just been swallowed, and the vocal cords are beginning to open. At this point, the hypopharynx contains no residue.
Reflux into hypopharynx

Water flows into the swallowing crescent (2 of 3)

One second later, the blue-stained water begins to emerge from just above the cricopharyngeus muscle into the “swallowing crescent”.
Reflux into hypopharynx

Larynx opens up (3 of 3)

Another two seconds later, the larynx has fully opened post-swallow. The post-swallow hypopharyngeal re-emergence of the blue-stained water is apparent.

Cricopharyngeus Non-Relaxation and Zenker’s Sac Seen During VESS

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Immediately after swallow

Immediately after swallow (1 of 4)

During VESS, after administration of several boluses of blue-stained applesauce. Trace applesauce on pharyngeal walls, immediately after a completed swallow. The postcricoid area is “clean” in this view, at *.
applesauce appears having been ejected upwards from a presumed Zenker’s diverticulum

One second later (2 of 4

Approximately a half second later, applesauce appears at the *, having been ejected upwards from a presumed Zenker’s diverticulum.
Un-relaxed cricopharyngeus muscle

Un-relaxed cricopharyngeus muscle (3 of 4)

During water administration, a glimpse of the un-relaxed cricopharyngeus muscle is seen (concentric dotted lines). Esophageal entrance at ‘E’ and Zenker’s pouch, still containing some previously-administered blue applesauce, at ‘Z’.
Un-relaxed cricopharyngeus muscle

More water (4 of 4)

After several more boluses of blue-stained water, the applesauce has mostly washed away, and the same findings of photo 3 are seen more clearly.

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X-ray of cricopharyngeal dysfunction
This patient with cricopharyngeal dysfunction is just beginning to form a Zenker’s pouch. Note that the cricopharyngeus muscle (light grey “thumb” at asterisk) is beginning to turn upwards and become more slender. The volume of barium below the dotted line is inside the incipient Zenker’s pouch. Over months or years, this pouch would stretch and develop into a true Zenker’s pouch.
A-CPD YT Thumbnail

Having Trouble Swallowing Foods and Pills? A-CPD Can Be Treated with Cricopharyngeal Myotomy

A small percentage of (mostly) older people develop A-CPD. They have difficulty initially with solid foods and pills. As the months and years pass, the tendency for food to lodge in the throat gradually increases.

Eventually, they must limit their diets to softer and “easier” things more and more like “baby food.” Special focus is placed on an effective endoscopic (through the mouth) laser procedure

Can’t swallow solid foods YT Thumbnail

Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction: Difficulty Swallowing, Especially Solid Foods

Dr. Bastian explains this progressive swallowing problem and presents options for treatment. Cricopharyngeal dysfunction is caused by failure of relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter—cricopharyngeus muscle—during eating. Typically it is solid foods that tend to lodge in the mid-neck area where this muscle is located.

Food stuck in throat due to cricopharyngeal dysfunction seen by VFSS YT Thumbnail

Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction: Before and After Cricopharyngeal Myotomy

This video shows x-rays of barium passing through the throat, first with a narrowed area caused by a non-relaxing upper esophageal sphincter (cricopharyngeus muscle), and then after laser division of this muscle. Preoperatively, food and pills were getting stuck at the level of the mid-neck, and the person was eating mostly soft foods. After the myotomy (division of the muscle), the patient could again swallow meat, pizza, pills, etc. without difficulty.

Swallowing trouble 101 YT Thumbnail

Swallowing Trouble 101

This video gives an overview of how swallowing works, how it can sometimes go wrong (presbyphagia or A-CPD), and possible ways to treat those problems (swallowing therapy or cricopharyngeal myotomy).

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