The postcricoid impression on the esophagus.

Pitman, R. G.

doi:10.2214/ajr.158.3.1590850

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Evidence for this effect is found in the radiologic literature, where there are consistent descriptions of a ridge of tissue, distinct from the arch of the cricoid cartilage, which forms an impression or plication in the postcricoid region on esophagram. [25][26][27][28][29] This is considered a normal anatomic finding corresponding to the postcricoid venous plexus seen on adult anatomical dissections and presumably to the postcricoid cushion as well. The normal plication is considered to be dynamically passive, being drawn into the esophageal inlet during the negative pressure phase of the hypopharyngeal swallow.…”

Section: Commentmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Radiologists have consistently noted a convexity of tissue behind the cricoid on swallow studies. Pitman and Fraser, 25 in a study of barium swallow examinations for dysphagia, identified a "postcricoid impression" in 86% of patients with dysphagia and 90% of control patients. Considering this to be a normal finding, they suggested that it is a prolapse of mucosa over a venous plexus.…”

Section: Radiographic Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The “Postcricoid Cushion”

Hoff

Koltai

2012

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Anatomic studies have demonstrated a rich venous plexus in the postcricoid region of the larynx. During the expiratory phase of an infant's cry, there is a cyclical engorgement, occasionally with vascular discoloration, in the postcricoid region at the same level of the venous plexus-the "postcricoid cushion." We propose that during crying, with acute elevation in intrathoracic pressure, there is a filling of the plexus, causing apposition of the postcricoid cushion against the posterior pharyngeal wall, which may serve as a protective barrier to emesis in infants. Our observations relate and differentiate this normal physiologic phenomenon from the rare cases of postcricoid vascular anomalies.

show abstract

Section: Commentmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Radiographic Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

The “Postcricoid Cushion”

Hoff

Koltai

2012

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…They termed this the posterior cricoid (PC) impression and felt that it represented a submucosal venous plexus. Pitman et al [3, 4] and Butler [5] dissected cadaver larynges after latex injection and described the presence of submucosal bilateral interconnected venous plexuses termed the ventral pharyngolaryngeal venous plexus. They hypothesized that the vessels may dilate and produce a mucosal fold, thus causing the fluoroscopic finding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The finding was reported in 86% (104/121) of fluoroscopic studies in patients with dysphagia and in 90% (64/71) of control studies. Pitman and Fraser [3, 4] further described nine subtypes of post-cricoid venous impression and compared them to true webs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posterior Cricoid Region Fluoroscopic Findings: The Posterior Cricoid Plication

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The region posterior to the cricoid cartilage is challenging to assess fluoroscopically. The purpose of this investigation is to critically evaluate the posterior cricoid (PC) region on fluoroscopy and describe patterns of common findings. This was a case control study. All fluoroscopic swallowing studies performed between June 16, 2009, and February 9, 2010, were reviewed for features seen in the PC region. These findings were categorized into distinct patterns and compared to fluoroscopic studies performed in a cohort of normal volunteers. Two hundred patient studies and 149 healthy volunteer studies were reviewed. The mean age of the referred patient cohort and the volunteer cohort was 57 years (±19) and 61 years (±16), respectively (p > 0.05). The patient cohort was 53% male and the control cohort was 56% female (p > 0.05). Four groups were identified. Pharyngoesophageal webs were seen in 7% (10/149) of controls and 14% (28/200) of patients (p = 0.03). A PC arch impression was seen in 16% of patients (32/200) and controls (24/149) (p = 1). A PC plication was demonstrated in 23% (34/149) of controls and 30% (60/200) of patients (p = 0.13). No distinctive PC region findings were seen in 54% (81/149) of controls and 42% (84/200) of referred patients (p = 0.02). Four patients (2%) had both a web and a PC plication. Four categories of PC region findings were identified (unremarkable PC region, web, PC arch impression, and PC plication). Both patients referred for swallowing studies and healthy volunteers demonstrated esophageal webs, PC arch impressions, and PC plications. Only webs were more common in patients than in control subjects (p = 0.03). The PC impression and PC plication are likely to represent normal variants that may be identified on fluoroscopic swallow studies.

show abstract

Diagnostic Imaging of the Pharynx and Esophagus

Branstetter¹

2010

Cummings Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The postcricoid impression on the esophagus.

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

The “Postcricoid Cushion”

The “Postcricoid Cushion”

Posterior Cricoid Region Fluoroscopic Findings: The Posterior Cricoid Plication

Diagnostic Imaging of the Pharynx and Esophagus

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About