Quantitative Analysis of Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study for the Assessment of Laryngeal Elevation : A new software tool for processing Videofluoroscopic Images for Assessment of Patients with Dysphagia

To date, the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) is considered the gold standard for thoroughly assessment and management of dysphagia. It is a symptom so common and diverse that is often considered as a disease in its own right. Dysphagia severity can range from a trivial problem to a lethal condition. It can seriously compromise the quality of life of affected patients, therefore management should be prompt. The implications of dysphagia in healthcare costs are elevated. VFSS carries a degree of subjectivity in its interpretation. The aim of present work is to implement a new software tool for video image processing in VFSS that assesses the superior and anterior excursions of the larynx. Currently, the radiologist have to identify manually the interest points, to rotate the images, to draw by hand the axes and to assess on these axes the projections related to the laryngeal displacements. This study demonstrates that the new software tool evaluates the components of the laryngeal elevation in the sagittal plane of the dysphagic patient minimizing the manual intervention of the radiologist.