J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2010 Oct;34(5):498-502.

Correlation between Duration of Dysphagia and Magnetic Resonance Image Findings in Patients with Stroke

• Kim DH
• Kim YC
• Lee SH
• Lee YS
• Kim CH
• Jung TD

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the correlation between duration of dysphagia and magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings in patients with stroke. METHOD: Ninety seven patients, who were evaluated by video fluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS), were recruited for 28 months. They were divided into two groups (transient group (n=52), prolonged group (n=45)) by removing time of NG tube from onset of stroke. Their MRI findings (lesion location and lesion size) were interpreted by one experienced radiologist retrospectively.
RESULTS
The duration of dysphagia had statistically significant correlation with lesion size but there was no statistically significant correlation between lesion location and duration of dysphagia in patients with stroke. Compared with transient group (51.5+/-53.8 cm3), a larger lesion was found in prolonged group (95.5+/-107.7 cm3).
CONCLUSION
Lesion size, not lesion location, can be a more important factor to predict early removal of NG tube in patients with stroke. More careful interventions about dysphagia are needed in patients with larger stroke lesion.

Keyword

Stroke; Dysphagia; Lesion location; Lesion size

MeSH Terms

Deglutition
Deglutition Disorders
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Magnetics
Magnets
Retrospective Studies
Stroke