There are 3 different pharynxes (Figure 1). The nasopharynx, or velopharynx, is the airspace posterior to all of the soft palate; the oropharynx is the airspace posterior to the tip of the uvula to the tip of the epiglottis; and the laryngopharynx, or hypopharynx, is the airspace posterior to the tip of the epiglottis to the vocal cords. The adult human is one of only a few animals to have a sp...

A 32-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of nonproductive cough, fever, severe sore throat, odynophagia, and dysphagia. A chest radiograph showed no significant finding, but the lateral view of the neck demonstrated ‘‘vallecula’’ and ‘‘thumbprint’’ signs (Figure 1). Significant laboratory findings were a white blood cell count of 22,000/mL with 93% neurtrophi...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement of dysphagia after balloon dilatation and balloon swallowing at the vallecular space with a Foley catheter in stroke patients. METHODS This study was conducted between May 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015, and involved 30 stroke patients with complaints of difficulty in swallowing. All patients underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) before an...

We report herein a rare case of typical carcinoid occurring primarily in the epiglottis. The patient was a 70-year-old man. On initial examination, a polypoid lesion with irregular surface near the center right-hand side of the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis was observed, and a biopsy was performed. Pathological examination of the specimen suggested the possibility of adenocarcinoma. Surgi...