Cricopharyngeus muscle specimens taken at the cricopharyngeal myotomy were examined histopathologically. Cases included here were the following diseases: amyotrophic lateral screlosis, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, Kearns-Shy syndrome and “cricopharyngeal achalasia.”
The specimens of amyotrophic lateral screlosis showed a pattern of group muscular atrophy or neurogenic muscular atrophy with slight degeneration of muscle fibers, slight fibrosis but no inflammation. The specimens of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy and Kearns-Shy syndrome, on the other hand, showed scattered muscular atrophy, degeneration of muscle fibers with marked fibrosis and myogenic muscular atrophy, while no inflammatory processes were found either.
The specimen of “cricopharyngeal achalasia” showed scattered muscular atrophy, degeneration of muscle fibers, nuclear changes and fibrosis without inflammatory changes. These features resembled myopathic processes found in the specimens of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy and Kearns-Shy syndrome.
Recently “cricopharyngeal achalasia” has been defined as dysphagia at the site of cricopharyngeal portion without any already known organic diseases. On the basis of the present study and past reports of several investigators, the authors concluded that “cricopharyngeal achalasia” is caused by myopathic processes in the cricopharyngeus muscle.
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