Ultrasound: Validity of a Pocket-Sized System in the Assessment of Swallowing

• Published in: Dysphagia Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 1010 - 1018
• Main Authors: Winiker, Katharina, Burnip, Emma, Gozdzikowska, Kristin, Guiu Hernandez, Esther, Hammond, Rebecca, Macrae, Phoebe, Huckabee, Maggie-Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-12-2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Approximation; Care and treatment; Deglutition disorders; Diagnosis; Dysphagia; Esophagogastric junction; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Imaging; Medical examination; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Methods; Original; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Radiology; Risk factors; Saliva; Swallowing; Throat; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound; Ultrasound imaging; Validity; New Zealand; Hyoid excursion; Videofluoroscopy; Validity; Swallowing; Thyrohyoid approximation; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0179-051X; 1432-0460
• DOI: 10.1007/s00455-020-10232-w

Adequate hyoid and laryngeal displacement facilitate safe and efficient swallowing. Although videofluoroscopy is commonly used for assessment of this biomechanical event, ultrasound provides benefits as a radiation-free modality for this purpose. This study investigated validity of a pocket-sized ultrasound system (Clarius™) in the assessment of hyoid and laryngeal excursion. Hyoid excursion and thyrohyoid approximation were concurrently assessed in 20 healthy adults using ultrasound and videofluoroscopy during saliva, liquid, and puree swallowing. Correlation analyses were performed to evaluate validity. There was a strong and moderate positive association between ultrasound and videofluoroscopic measurements of hyoid excursion during dry and liquid swallowing, respectively. No evidence for a significant association was found for ultrasound and videofluoroscopic measurements of hyoid excursion for puree swallowing and of thyrohyoid approximation for any bolus type. Further work towards improved validity is necessary prior to clinical transfer of the pocket-sized Clarius™ system in clinical swallowing assessment.