Ultrasonographic assessment of dysphagia in Parkinson's disease: a controlled study.

Background: Swallowing dysfunction is a common but often overlooked symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), significantly affecting patients' quality of life. Ultrasonography has emerged as a promising, non-invasive, radiation-free, and dynamic assessment tool for evaluating swallowing function in PD.

Aims: This study aimed to dynamically assess swallowing function in early- and mid-stage Parkinson's disease patients using ultrasonography and compare the findings with healthy controls.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30 patients diagnosed with PD and 30 healthy volunteers. Swallowing function was assessed using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) questionnaire. Ultrasonographic measurements at rest, dry swallowing, and 5 mL water swallowing evaluated tongue thickness, mandible-hyoid distance(MHD), and hyoid displacement. Parkinson's disease severity was assessed using the Modified Hoehn-Yahr (HY) Scale and the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS).

Results: EAT-10 scores were significantly higher in the PD group compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001), with 43.33% of patients exhibiting clinically significant dysphagia (EAT-10 ≥ 3). During dry swallowing, minimum MHD was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while hyoid displacement distance (p = 0.013) and percentage (p = 0.002) were significantly lower in PD patients. Similarly, during 5 mL water swallowing, hyoid displacement percentage was significantly lower in the PD group (p = 0.019). No significant correlation was found between ultrasonographic measurements and disease severity (HY staging, MDS-UPDRS scores).

Conclusion: Ultrasonography is a valuable tool for assessing swallowing dysfunction in PD, revealing reduced hyoid displacement even in early stages. The high prevalence of dysphagia supports routine swallowing assessments. Ultrasonography integration may aid early detection, improving patient outcomes and reducing aspiration-related risks.