Glossary for Dysphagia

Medical terms related to Dysphagia or mentioned in this section include:

• Achalasia: A rare condition where the patients muscles, such as the cardiac sphincter of the stomach, are unable to relax.
• Achalasia, familial esophageal: A rare familial disorder where the esophagus lacks the normal peristaltic motions that help food move through the digestive system.
• Achromatopsia: Patients who have achromatopsia (sometimes called achromatopia) do not have normal "cone vision.". Although the term may refer to acquired disorders such as color agnosia and cerebral achromatopsia, it typically refers to an autosomal recessive congenital color vision disorder, the inability to perceive color AND to achieve satisfactory visual acuity at high light levels (typically exterior daylight).
• Acoustic neuroma: A rare benign tumor that forms in the hearing canal. Can cause tinnitus, progressive hearing loss, headaches, facial numbness, papilledema, dizziness and an unsteady walk. Speaking and swallowing difficulty can occur in advanced stages. Also called acoustic neurilemoma, acoustic neurinoma and acoustic neurofibroma.
• Adrenoleukodystrophy: A rare hereditary metabolic disease that only occurs in male children and is characterized by adrenal atrophy and extensive cerebral demyelination causing progressive loss of mental functioning, aphasia, apraxia and sometimes blindness. The patient usually dies within 5 years.
• Airway Obstruction: airway obstruction is a blockage of the upper airway, which can be in the trachea, laryngeal (voice box), or pharyngeal (throat) areas or involve the bronch.
• Airway obstruction: airway obstruction is a blockage of the upper airway, which can be in the trachea, laryngeal (voice box), or pharyngeal (throat) areas or involve the bronch.
• Amyloidosis, inflammatory: Amyloidosis is a rare group of metabolic disorders where a protein called amyloid accumulates in body organs and tissues where it can cause damage and is potentially fatal. Symptoms depend on the organs involved. Secondary amyloidosis is caused by a chronic infection of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple myeloma, tuberculosis and osteomyelitis. The main organs affected in secondary amyloidosis are usually the kidneys, liver, spleen and lymph nodes. The peripheral and autonomic nerves and the heart are rarely affected.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A degenerative motor neuron disease marked by weakness and wasting of the muscles which starts at the hands and legs and spreads to the rest of the body. Death occurs in 2 to 5 years. Also called Lou Gehrig's disease or wasting palsy.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 2, juvenile: An inherited disorder involving progressive degeneration of motor neurons which results in muscle weakness and wasting. Type 2 is caused by a defect on chromosome 2q33.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 3: An inherited disorder involving progressive degeneration of motor neurons which results in muscle weakness and wasting. Type 3 is caused by a defect on chromosome 18q21.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 6: An inherited disorder involving progressive degeneration of motor neurons which results in muscle weakness and wasting. Type 6 is caused by a defect on chromosome 16q12.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 7: An inherited disorder involving progressive degeneration of motor neurons which results in muscle weakness and wasting. Type 7 is caused by a defect on chromosome 20p13.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 8: An inherited disorder involving progressive degeneration of motor neurons which results in muscle weakness and wasting. Type 9 is caused by a defect on chromosome 20q13.3 and is a dominantly inherited, late-onset form.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, familial type 7: A generally fatal, inherited progressive disease where destruction of motor nerves in the spinal cord and brain stem cause progressive muscle weakness and wasting. Type 7 is characterized adult onset of symptoms with progression varying between less than 5 years to several decades. It occurs in an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.
• Appetite changes: Inappropriately reduced or increased appetite.
• Arizona Bark Scorpion poisoning: A bite from the Arizona Bark scorpion contains chemicals toxic to the nerve system and can cause serious, life-threatening symptoms.
• Arnold-Chiari malformation type 3: An extremely rare malformation where the base of the brain enters into the upper spinal canal. Type 3 involves the herniation of brain or brain stem tissue out of the back of the neck or head. The condition generally has a poor prognosis.
• Autonomic nerve disorders: A disorder of the nervous system concerned with regulation of activity of cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands, usually restricted to the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
• Autonomic neuropathy: A condition which is characterized by a functional disturbance or pathological change in the autonomic nervous system
• Avellis's syndrome: Damage to a part of the brain stem (nucleus ambiguous) which affects signals being sent to the vagus nerve which controls the pharynx and larynx. Paralysis occurs on one side of the palate and vocal cord and loss of sensation in the other side of the body. The damage may be due to such things as trauma, cancer or toxicity.
• Babinski-Nageotte syndrome: A rare disorder caused by damage to a part of the brain (medullobulbar transitional area) which causes a variety of neurological symptoms, some of which affect only one side of the body.
• Barrett's oesophagus: Barrett's esophagus is a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus is damaged. The damage is caused by stomach acid that leaks back into the esophagus. This leakage of acid is commonly known as "heartburn" (gastroesophageal reflux).
• Basal ganglia disease, biotin-responsive: A neurological disease that affects the part of the brain called the basal ganglia. The disease responds well to biotin administration but relapses within a month if the biotin is stopped. If the condition is diagnosed late or there are recurring episodes, the patient may suffer ongoing symptoms such as paraparesis, mild mental retardation or dystonia.
• Basilar artery insufficiency syndrome: A range of symptoms caused by impaired blood flow through the basilar artery. The symptoms may come and go according to variation in blood flow through the basilar artery. The blood flow may be impaired by such things as thrombosis, narrowed artery and blood vessel spasms. Symptoms vary depending on the exact location and extent of the artery involvement as well as whether the onset is gradual or sudden.
• Botulism food poisoning: Extremely dangerous food poisoning requiring medical attention, but not always recognized because of its non-abdominal symptoms.
• Brain symptoms: Symptoms affecting the brain
• CANOMAD syndrome: A rare syndrome characterized by a range of abnormalities caused by immune-mediated nerve demyelination. There is usually no loss of limb function associated with the disorder. The face, throat, mouth and eye symptoms (weakness of the muscles) usually come and go.
• Candidiasis: Fungal infection of moist areas such as mouth or vagina
• Carcinoma of the vocal tract: Cancer of the vocal cords in the larynx.
• Carotid Paraganglioma: A rare, usually benign tumor found in the carotid artery in the neck. The tumor develops from glomus cells which are located along blood vessels involved in automatic body activities such as regulation of blood pressure and blood flow.
• Cerebral Palsy: Any brain disorder causing movement disability
• Cerebrovascular accident: Occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted and results in cell injury and death.
• Chagas disease: A parasitic infection caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by insect bites or blood transfusions. The disease primarily involves the heart and gastrointestinal system.
• Chemical poisoning - Fluoridated toothpaste: Fluoridated toothpaste contains fluoride and various other chemicals which can cause serious symptoms if sufficient quantities are swallowed. As little as half a tube of children's paste can cause death in a 2 year old child and a whole tube can cause death in a 9 year old child. The type and severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of chemical involved and the nature of the exposure.
• Chordoma: Chordomas are tumors originating from embryonic remnants of the primitive notochord
• Chromosome 22 Ring: A rare chromosomal disorder where genetic material from one or both ends of chromosome 22 is missing and the two broken ends have rejoined to form a ring. The resulting type and severity of symptoms is determined by the amount and location of genetic material missing.
• Chromosome 22 trisomy mosaic: A rare chromosomal disorder where three copies of chromosome 22 are present in some of the body's cells instead of the normal two. Severity of symptoms is determined by how many cells have the extra chromosomal material.
• Cleft palate: This when there is a congenital fissure of the median line of the palate.
• Cobra poisoning: The Cobra is a poisonous snake which can be found in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. Some cobras are able to spit venom into the victims eye and cause serious symptoms.
• Congenital bronchogenic cyst: A rare birth condition characterized by the formation of a cyst in the middle of the chest, usually near the area where the trachea branches off. The condition may be asymptomatic but if the cyst is large enough it may cause problems by compressing nearby structures such as the trachea.
• Crohn's disease of the esophagus: A rare disorder where Crohn's disease occurs in the esophagus. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammation of the walls of the digestive tract and usually occurs in the intestines.
• Cyclosporine toxicity: The toxic reaction of the body to the substance, possibly via allergic reaction or overdose.
• Cytoplasmic body myopathy: A rare group of muscle diseases caused by protein deposits inside the muscle cells. The severity, rate of progression and extent of muscle involvement is variable.
• Dermatomyositis: A muscle disease characterized by chronic muscle inflammation resulting in progressive muscle weakness and a characteristic rash.
• Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: A type of degenerative joint disease where spinal column ligaments lose their flexibility due to calcification.
• Diffuse systemic sclerosi: A rare condition that characterized by skin tightness affecting the trunk and extremities as well as organ involvement. It involves an early period of internal inflammation which distinguishes it from other forms of scleroderma and the organ involvement can be severe and even life-threatening.
• Digestive symptoms: Any symptoms affecting the digestive tract.
• Diphtheria: Infectious bacterial respiratory disease
• Diverticular Disease: Protrusions of the colon wall (diverticulosis) or their inflammation (diverticulitis)
• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: An inherited degenerative disease of the muscles which progresses rapidly compared to other muscle wasting diseases.
• Dysphagia in children:
• Dystonia 12: A very rare syndrome involving the early start of symptoms of dystonia and parkinsonism. The onset of the symptoms usually occurs suddenly over weeks or even hours and then progresses slowly.
• Dystonia with cerebellar atrophy: A recessively inherited movement disorder (dystonia) which responds poorly to Levodopa treatment and involves wasting of part of the brain.
• EGE: A rare disorder where white blood cells (eosinophils) infiltrate the layers of the lining of the stomach and intestines and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. The degree of infiltration will determine the severity of symptoms.
• Eagle's syndrome: A group of symptoms caused by calcification of the stylohyoid ligament and an abnormally long styloid process. The styloid process is a bone at the base of the skull which is attached to muscles and ligaments connected to the throat and tongue. If this bone is too long then actions such as swallowing and turning the head can cause pain and discomfort. The cause of the condition is unknown but trauma and inflammation may be the cause in some cases.
• Eating symptoms: Symptoms related to eating.
• Emanuel syndrome: A rare chromosomal disorder where a portion of chromosome 11 is translocated with a portion of chromosome 22. The disorder involves a wide range of abnormalities such as kidney, genital and heart abnormalities, mental retardation, small head and failure to thrive.
• Enlarged tonsils: Enlargement of the tonsils, which are glands found in the oropharynx.
• Epiglottitis: is the inflammation of the epiglottis and is a medical emergency
• Epileptic encephalopathy, early infantile, 1: A genetic form of epilepsy which is severe and starts during infancy. This form of the condition is caused by a defect on the ARX gene.
• Esophageal atresia: A rare birth defect where the esophagus is not connected to the stomach.
• Esophageal diverticulum: Stretched pocket area of esophagus tissue
• Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus
• Esophagus Cancer: Cancer of the esophagus in the throat.
• Esophagus symptoms: Symptoms affecting the esophagus (digestive throat passage)
• FOSMN syndrome: A rare neurodegenerative disorder that starts in the face and spreads to the scalp and upper body. The condition progresses slowly.
• Food symptoms: Symptoms related to food.
• Franek-Bocker-Kahlen syndrome: A rare syndrome characterized mainly by a small head, brain defect, spasticity and high sodium level.
• Frontotemporal dementia, ubiquitin-positive: A rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by progressive social, behavioral and language deterioration due to changes in the frontotemporal portion of the brain.
• Gastroesophageal reflux: Is referred to as the reflux of contents of the duodenum and stomach into the oesophagus
• Gaucher Disease: A rare inherited biochemical disorder characterized by the deficiency of the enzyme called glucocerebrosidase and accumulation of glycosylceramide (glucocerebroside). There are three forms of this disease: type 1, 2 and 3.
• Gaucher disease - perinatal lethal form: A rare syndrome characterized by the association of abnormally tight skin and Gaucher disease which is a lipid storage disease. This is the most severe form of Gaucher disease.
• Gaucher disease type 2: A rare inherited biochemical disorder characterized by the deficiency of the enzyme called glucocerebrosidase and accumulation of glycosylceramide (glucocerebroside). There are three forms of this disease: type 1, 2 and 3. Type 2 is acute neurological form apparent in infancy.
• Goitre: A swelling in the neck due to an enlarged thyroid.
• Guillain-Barre syndrome: An acute condition which is characterized by polyradiculoneuropathy that affects the peripheral nervous system
• Hypertelorism with esophageal abnormality and hypospadias: A congenital disorder characterized by distinctive facial features, genital abnormalities, esophageal defect and difficulty swallowing. Males are more severely affected than females.
• Hypomagnesemia primary: Low blood magnesium levels which is caused by the abnormal absorption and excretion of the mineral and can be caused by such things as kidney problems and intestinal malabsorption.
• Hypophosphatemia: Low blood phosphate levels. Causes include malnourishment, chronic alcoholism excessive carbohydrate consumption, malabsorption, phosphaturia, liver failure, respiratory alkalosis and certain genetic disorders.
• Inclusion Body Myositis: Progressive inflammatory muscle disease causing muscle weakness.
• Infantile striato-thalamic degeneration: A very rare disorder involving degeneration of part of the brain - thalamus and striatum.
• Laryngeal carcinoma: Cancer of the laryngeal area. Smoking and alcohol increase the risk of this cancer.
• Larynx symptoms: Symptoms affecting the larynx (voice box) in the neck
• Lead poisoning: A type of heavy metal poisoning caused by excessive exposure to lead.
• Lhermitte-Cornil-Quesnel syndrome: A rare disorder characterized by the slowly-progressive degeneration of a part of the brain (pyramidal tract and globus pallidus).
• Lissencephaly, type 1, X-linked: Abnormal brain development characterized by an abnormally smooth brain. This form of the disorder is inherited in a X-linked manner (defect on the DCX gene) and the corpus callosum fails to develop. Males tend to be affected more severely than females.
• Malignant Lung Cancer: Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is the invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. Most lung tumors are malignant. This means that they invade and destroy the healthy tissues around them and can spread throughout the body
• Mediastinitis: inflammation of the tissues in the mid-chest, or mediastinum
• Microcephaly brain defect spasticity hypernatremia: A rare syndrome characterized mainly by a small head, brain defect, spasticity and high sodium level.
• Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy syndrome: A rare genetic disorder which affects a number of body systems and manifests results in symptoms such as droopy eyelids, progressive eye muscle weakness, gastrointestinal dysmotility, brain disease, thin body, peripheral neuropathy and muscle disease.
• Mitral stenosis: Narrowing of the mitral heart valve
• Motor neuron diseases: Any of various disorders of the "motor neurons", nerves that control movement.
• Multiple system atrophy: A rare disorder where nerve degeneration causes progressive neurological problems involving the central and autonomic nervous system. The rate of progression is variable.
• Muscular dystrophy, Duchenne and Becker type: An inherited l disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness. The disorder is caused by a genetic anomaly and results in insufficient quantities of or ineffective dystrophin which is needed for normal muscle functioning. The disorder is expressed in males but females can be carriers.
• Myasthenia Gravis: An autoimmune disorder which interferes with nerve impulses to muscles and hence results in weak, easily fatigued muscles.
• Myasthenic syndrome, congenital, associated with acetylcholine receptor deficiency: A genetic, nonprogressive neuromuscular disorder causing muscle weakness. The severity of symptoms is variable and stress and illness can exacerbate symptoms.
• Myopathy: Any disease that occurs in the muscle.
• Myotonic Dystrophy: An inherited disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and wasting as well as eye defects, heart abnormalities and other anomalies. The severity of the condition is greatly variable. There are two type of myotonic dystrophy with type 1 being more severe than type 2.
• Nasal obstruction: Obstruction of the airways of the nose.
• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A malignant cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx area which is the upper part of the throat. Often there are no symptoms until the cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body such as the neck.
• Neck symptoms: Symptoms affecting the neck
• Nemaline myopathy 1: A very rare inherited muscle disorder and is characterized by muscle weakness caused by the presence of nemaline rods in the muscle tissue which affects its function. There are at least 7 different subtypes of nemaline myopathy, each with a different genetic defect. The severity of the symptoms may vary greatly even among patients within a particular subtype of the disorder. Type 1 is caused by a defect on the tropomyosin 3 gene on chromosome 1q22.
• Neonatal tetanus: Muscle tetanus of the very young infant
• Neuroferritinopathy: A rare disorder where a genetic mutation results in a neurological disease resulting from abnormal iron and ferritin deposits in the brain.
• Neurosarcoidosis: A rare disorder involving sarcoidosis of the nervous system. Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect virtually any part of the body. Neurosarcoidosis involves inflammation and abnormal deposits in parts of the nervous system including the brain and spinal cord which affects their functioning. Symptoms may be sudden and severe or may be mild and progress slowly. Symptoms are determined by the degree of nerve involvement.
• Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy: A group of genetic muscle-wasting diseases which affects mainly the eyes and throat. Weakness in limb and facial muscles can occur in later stages.
• Odontoma: A benign tumor that usually forms at the root of a tooth. It may have genetic origins or may result from some sort of trauma to the tooth.
• Odontoma - dysphagia syndrome: A rare disorder characterized mainly by overgrowth of muscle tissue in the esophagus and a benign tumor that usually forms at the root of a tooth.
• Oesophageal spasm: An oesophageal spasm is incoordinated contraction of the muscles in the esophagus which carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The muscles contract simultaneously instead of a rhythmic successive motion.
• Ondine's curse: A condition involving defects in the mechanism that control breathing.
• Oral cancer: Cancer (malignant) of the lip or inside the mouth.
• Oral pharyngeal disorders: Disorders involving the mouth and back of throat area including the pharynx. The disorder may include cancers, structural abnormalities, fungal disease, infections and inflammation. The type and severity of symptoms varies greatly depending on the type of disorder.
• Oral submucous fibrosis: A rare disorder involving inflammation and progressive fibrosis of tissues inside the mouth. The condition starts with redness, blistering and ulceration inside the mouth that is eventually replaced with stiff fibrous tissue as it heals. The inside of the mouth can become stiff and hinder oral functions such as eating, speaking and even opening the mouth. Even the pharynx may occasionally be involved. The condition can become cancerous. The disorder is often associated with chewing betel nuts in Asian and Indian areas.
• Oropharyngeal cancer: Oropharyngeal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the oropharynx. The oropharynx is the middle part of the pharynx (throat) behind the mouth, and includes the back one-third of the tongue, the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, and the tonsils.
• Palate cancer: Any cancer that is located anatomically on the palate of the mouth
• Pallidopyramidal syndrome: A rare disorder characterized by pyramidal signs and parkinsonism caused by a degeneration of the pyramidal tract and the part of the brain called the pallidum.
• Paracoccidioidomycosis: Infection by the fungus Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis which usually affects the lungs but can also involve the skin, mucous membranes, lymphatic system and other parts of the body.
• Paraganglioma: A rare, usually benign tumor most often found in the abdomen, chest, head and neck areas. The tumor develops from glomus cells which are located along blood vessels involved in automatic body activities such as regulation of blood pressure and blood flow. Symptoms may vary depending on the exact location of the tumor.
• Paralysis symptoms: Loss of body control and/or feeling.
• Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis: Limbic encephalitis is an inflammation of the limbic system which is the part of the brain responsible for basic autonomic functions. In the paraneoplastic type, the inflammation is caused by cancers such as small cell lung cancer.
• Perinatal-lethal Gaucher disease: A disorder caused by a deficiency of an enzyme called glucocerebrosidase. The foetal form is one of several forms of Gaucher disease and is the rarest. The fetal form causes death before birth or soon after.
• Pharyngitis: Inflammation of the pharynx.
• Pharynx cancer: A condition that is characterised by a malignant lesion located in the pharynx
• Pierre Robin's sequence: A rare genetic disorder characterized by an underdeveloped jaw, cleft soft palate and abnormal tongue location.
• Plummer-Vinson syndrome: A disorder characterized by swallowing difficulty associated with severe iron-deficiency anemia.
• Primary lateral sclerosis, adult: A rare adult-onset genetic disorder characterized by increasing weakness and stiffness of the limb muscles due to damage to nerve cells that control motor movement.
• Progeroid syndrome, neonatal: A rare congenital condition characterized by poor growth, aged facial appearance, and mental retardation. Death occurs usually by 6 years of age.
• Pseudoadrenoleukodystrophy: A rare disorder where an enzyme deficiency (Acyl-CoA Oxidase) results in symptoms such as seizures, apnea, delayed psychomotor retardation and neurological deterioration.
• Quinsy: Tonsil abscess
• Rabies: An infectious disease that can affect any mammal including humans and is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. The infectious agent is the Neurotropic lyssavirus which affects the salivary gland and also causes neurological symptoms.
• Retropharyngeal abscess: The high mortality rate of retropharyngeal abscess is owing to its association with airway obstruction
• Riedel syndrome: A rare condition that occurs when fibrous tissue forms in the thyroid area and progressively destroys the thyroid gland.
• Scleroderma, systemic: A rare autoimmune connective tissue disease where the body attacks parts of the body and causes scarring and thickness of the tissue. In the systemic form, the skin and organs are involved.
• Sensory ataxic neuropathy, dysarthria, and ophthalmoparesis: A very rare syndrome characterized by progressive ataxia, eye muscle problems and a speech disorder (dysarthria).
• Shy- Drager syndrome: also known as multiple system atrophy
• Small Cell Lung Cancer: Small cell lung cancer is a cancer of the small cells which make up some of the lung tissue. It tends to be a more aggressive cancer than large cell lung cancer and can metastasize to other parts of the body. This type of cancer nearly always occurs in a people with a history of smoking.
• Small baby: Small size of newborn baby
• Spastic paraplegia 11, autosomal recessive: A rare genetic disorder characterized by progressive spasticity and weakness of the lower legs as well as mental retardation.
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy type I: Type of SMA, a genetic motor neuron disease affecting nerves and muscles.
• Spinocerebellar ataxia 17: A rare genetic disorder (chromosome 6q27 defect) characterized by . Gait ataxia and dysarthria (speech disorder) also occur and are symptoms common to all the spinocerebellar ataxia types.
• Spinocerebellar ataxia 22: A rare genetic disorder (chromosome defect) characterized by ataxia, eye movement problems and dysarthria (speech disorder). The condition progresses slowly over decades.
• Spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive 1: A neurological disorder characterized by progressive ataxia, tremor and muscle weakness and wasting. The rate of progression and severity is variable with some needing wheelchairs in their second decade and others still capable of some walking in their 4th decade.
• Stomach cancer: Stomach or gastric cancer can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs
• Striatonigral degeneration infantile: A genetic neurological disorder caused by progressive damage to a part of the brain called the striatum.
• Stroke: Brain-related symptoms of bleeding or blockage.
• Stroke symptoms: Brain-related symptoms of bleeding or blockage.
• Stuve-Wiedemann dysplasia: A rare syndrome characterized mainly by short stature, bowed long bones and permanent flexion of fingers.
• Stuve-Wiedemann syndrome: A rare syndrome characterized mainly by short stature, bowed long bones and permanent flexion of fingers.
• Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis: Subacute thyroiditis is a self-limited thyroid condition associated with a triphasic clinical course of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and return to normal thyroid function.
• Supraglottic laryngeal cancer: Cancer that arises in the tissue above the vocal cords.
• Swallowing difficulty: Difficulty or pain when swallowing
• Tetanus: A disease caused by chemicals which are produced by a bacterium (clostridium tetani) and are toxic to the nerves. The infection usually occurs when the bacteria enter the body through a deep wound - these bacteria are anaerobic and hence don't need oxygen to survive.
• Throat cancer: A malignancy in the throat
• Thyroglossal tract cyst: A rare condition where a soft, slow-growing growth develops at the front of the neck. It occurs as an abnormal growth that develops from thyroid tissue that is left over from fetal development.
• Thyroid cancer, anaplastic: A thyroid gland cancer that is quite aggressive and metastasizes to other parts of the body.
• Tongue Cancer: The majority of tongue cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. These arise from the lining that covers the muscles of the tongue
• Tongue Conditions: Any condition that affects the tongue
• Tonsil cancer: A disorder characterised by malignancy that is located on the tonsils
• Tonsil disorders: Any disorder that occurs on the tonsil
• Ulcer: The sloughing of necrotic inflammatory tissue causing a local defect in the surface of an organ or tissue
• Vagal Paraganglioma: A rare, usually benign tumor found in the neck. The tumor develops from glomus cells which are located along blood vessels involved in automatic body activities such as regulation of blood pressure and blood flow.
• Velopharyngeal insufficiency: A condition which is characterized by failure of velopharyngeal closure due to cleft palate
• Wallenberg's Syndrome: A rare neurological condition caused by a stroke (involving the cerebellar artery) and resulting in symptoms such as facial paralysis or weakness on one side of body.
• Wilson's disease: Wilson disease, or hepatolenticular degeneration, is a neurodegenerative disease of copper metabolism.
• Zenker's diverticulum: Zenker's diverticulum, is a diverticulum of the mucosa of the pharynx, just above the cricopharyngeal muscle.

 » Next page: Dysphagia due to achalasia cardia

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