Correlation between Duration of Dysphagia and Magnetic Resonance Image Findings in Patients with Stroke

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between duration of dysphagia and magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings in patients with stroke. METHOD: Ninety seven patients, who were evaluated by video fluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS), were recruited for 28 months. They were divided into two groups (transient group (n=52), prolonged group (n=45)) by removing time of NG tube from onset of stroke. Their MRI findings (lesion location and lesion size) were interpreted by one experienced radiologist retrospectively. RESULTS: The duration of dysphagia had statistically significant correlation with lesion size but there was no statistically significant correlation between lesion location and duration of dysphagia in patients with stroke. Compared with transient group (51.5+/-53.8 cm3), a larger lesion was found in prolonged group (95.5+/-107.7 cm3). CONCLUSION: Lesion size, not lesion location, can be a more important factor to predict early removal of NG tube in patients with stroke. More careful interventions about dysphagia are needed in patients with larger stroke lesion.