Esophageal Motility Disorders in Patients With Esophageal Barium Residue After Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate esophageal motility disorders in patients with esophageal residual barium on chest x-rays after videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS) through high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM). METHODS: We reviewed the records of 432 patients who underwent VFSS from September 2019 to May 2021, and 85 patients (19.7%) with large residual barium (diameter ≥1 cm) were included. As a result of HREM, motility disorders were classified as major or minor motility disorders according. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and chest computed tomography results available were also reviewed. RESULTS: Among 85 patients with large residual barium in the esophagus, 16 patients (18.8%) underwent HREM. Abnormal esophageal motilities were identified in 68.8% patient: three patients (18.8%) had major motility disorders—achalasia (n=1), esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow obstruction (n=2)—and eight patients (50%) had minor motility disorders—ineffective esophageal motility (n=7), fragmented peristalsis (n=1). In those with normal esophageal motility, three patients of esophageal structure disorders (18.8%)—esophageal cancer (n=1), cardiogenic dysphagia (n=1), slight narrowing without obstruction of EGJ (n=1)—and two patients (12.5%) with chronic atrophic gastritis (n=2) were confirmed. CONCLUSION: Esophageal motility disorders were identified in 68.8% of 16 patients with large esophageal residual barium with three patients in the major and eight patients in the minor categories. Residual barium in the esophagus was not rare and can be a sign of significant esophageal motility disorders.