Abstract
A patient with dysphagia caused in polymyositis is presented. The most notable finding was that the disease was localized in the inferior pharyngeal muscles. Fluoroscopic, manometric and electromyographic examinations revealed the normal relaxation of the cricopharyngeal muscle during the pharyngeal stage of deglutition, the weakness of pharyngeal contraction and the failure of passive dilatation of the esophageal inlet. The cricopharyngeal myotomy was successfully performed and the patient is well controlled by the postoperative administration of steroid.
