Gastrointestinal Emergencies

Oropharyngeal: Neurological motility disorder: stroke; movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy); amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; multiple sclerosis; bulbar palsy; brainstem tumour; pseudobulbar palsy. Striated muscle disease: myasthenia gravis; myotonic dystrophy; polymyositis; dermatomyositis; inflammatory myopathy; muscular dystrophy. Reduced salivary flow leading to dry mouth (xerostomia): Sjogren’s syndrome; anticholinergics; antihistamines; ACE inhibitors; alpha-adrenergic blockers. Structural lesions: inflammatory: pharyngitis, tonsillar abscess; head and neck tumours; pharyngeal diverticula; ulcerative stomatitis; painful glossitis; anterior marginal cervical osteophytes (especially with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis). Metabolic: hypothyroidism; hyperthyroidism; steroid myopathy.