Tongue measurements and pharyngeal residue in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Aim: We aimed to analyze the relationship between tongue measurements and vallecular residue in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Materials & methods: Twenty-one patients with ALS were assessed for posterior maximum tongue isometric pressure (PMTIP) and posterior tongue isometric endurance (PTIE) by the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument; vallecular residue after 10 ml of moderately thickened consistency by Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing; and tongue thickness (TT) by ultrasonography.

Results

PMTIP, PTIE and TT were decreased compared with the reference values for healthy individuals and were not different between patients with and without vallecular residue.

Conclusion

In ALS, PMTIP, PTIE and TT are not good predictors of vallecular residue in the tested volume and food consistency.