Radiologic examination of pharynx for oropharyngeal dysphagia in a patient with dermatomyositis (clinical observation)

Dermatomyositis – a systemic connective tissue disease, from the group of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Affection of the skeletal muscle tissue in inflammatory myopathies causes progressive muscle weakness. In dermatomyositis reduction in contraction ability of the muscles involved in the act of swallowing, leads to violation of the mechanism of respiratory protection from getting food masses inside and from development of dysphagia. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the changes detected in the process of radiologic examination of the dermatomyositis patient’s throat. Materials and methods. Patient K. 61 years old, he has dermatomyositis and clinical signs of oropharyngeal dysphagia. The patient underwent a pharyngeal radiologic examination, which allowed to confirm the disturbance of swallowing function and to establish the fact of aspiration. Results and discussion. Radiological examination of the pharynx showed signs of pharynx hypotony, pharyngeal ectasia, stasis, residual amount of radiocontrast agent in caudal section of larynx, penetration, aspiration. Conclusion. Radiological examination of the pharynx in patients with dermatomyositis is important method examination of studying swallowing disorders and predicting risk of serve complications. The peculiarity of this case is the demonstration of swallowing dysfunction dynamics in a patient with dermatomyositis at admission to the clinic and after treatment.