Dysphagia. Diagnostic pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia involve different phases of swallowing, have different causes, and can usually be distinguished by a thorough patient history. Initial evaluation of patients with suspected oropharyngeal dysphagia includes patient history, physical and neurologic examination, and careful videofluoroscopic study of pharyngeal dynamics. Initial evaluation of patients with suspected esophageal dysphagia includes patient history and barium swallow with esophagography. Lesions such as Schatzki's ring or peptic stricture may not be detected unless the esophagus is sufficiently distended and the patient is given a bolus challenge.