Manofluorography in the evaluation of oropharyngeal dysphagia

Manofluorography, that is, the concurrent use of manometry and videofluorography for the evaluation of pharyngeal dysphagia, has not been widely used clinically, partially because of various limitations of conventional manometry. Technological advancements in recent years have led to substantial improvements in manometric devises, which can now overcome many of the shortcomings of standard manometry. In parallel with this, studies examining the utility of high-resolution manometry for the evaluation of pharyngeal disorders of swallowing have begun to emerge. This review summarizes the technological developments in manometry and the existing literature on pharyngeal high-resolution manofluorography with pressure topography. The article also discusses the potential clinical value of high-resolution pharyngeal-esophageal pressure topography and suggests directions for future investigations. Studies conducted so far have shown heterogeneous approaches to utilizing high-resolution manofluorography. These studies have revealed important information regarding its diagnostic potential and researchers have devised innovative methods of measurements. However, substantial research is required to transform manofluorography into a clinically useful tool. There is a need to conduct validation studies, correlating manometric measures with structural changes in the swallow seen on videofluorography and devise diagnostic methods that utilize the advantages of both tools. Furthermore, studies comparing healthy and clinical populations are needed to identify measures most clinically significant in order to develop diagnostic paradigms.