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. 2018 Sep;11(3):129-132.
doi: 10.14802/jmd.17081. Epub 2018 Sep 30.

Transfer Dysphagia Due to Focal Dystonia

Priyanka Samal  1 , Vinay Goyal  1 , Govind K Makharia  2 , Chandan J Das  3 , Sankar Prasad Gorthi  4 , Vishnu V Y  1 , Mamta Bhushan Singh  1 , M V Padma Srivastava  1
Affiliations

Transfer Dysphagia Due to Focal Dystonia

Priyanka Samal et al. J Mov Disord. 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: The inability to propel a bolus of food successfully from the posterior part of the oral cavity to the oropharynx is defined as transfer dysphagia. The present case series describes the varied presentation of transfer dysphagia due to focal dystonia and highlights the importance of early detection by following up on strong suspicions.

Methods: We describe seven cases of transfer dysphagia due to focal dystonia. Transfer dysphagia as a form of focal dystonia may appear as the sole presenting complaint or may present with other forms of focal dystonia.

Results: Four out of seven patients had pure transfer dysphagia and had previously been treated for functional dysphagia. A high index of suspicion, barium swallow including videofluoroscopy, associated dystonia in other parts of the body and response to drug therapy with trihexyphenidyl/tetrabenazine helped to confirm the diagnosis.

Conclusion: Awareness of these clinical presentations among neurologists and non-neurologists can facilitate an early diagnosis and prevent unnecessary investigations.

Keywords: Transfer dysphagia; barium swallow; eating dystonia; focal dystonia; videofluoroscopy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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