Cricopharyngeal myotomy in the management of neurogenic and muscular dysphagia.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia results from disruption of the integrated mechanism of swallowing. Neurogenic dysphagia is caused by central nervous system disorders or by cranial nerve involvement and it may be distinguished from muscular dysphagia such as that seen mostly in oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). Based on our 20-year experience in a university hospital thoracic surgery service, we describe the results of the clinical evaluation, the laboratory testing and the surgical management of a recent subgroup of patients experiencing dysphagia from neurogenic and muscular disorders.