Emerging Dysphagia Technologies: Swallowing CT

Purpose of Review: Swallowing evaluation using area-detector CT allows dynamic evaluation of swallowing with the advantages of three-dimensional visualization and quantitative kinematic analysis. This review article summarizes the application of swallowing CT in research, clinical, and education areas. Recent Findings: For research, understanding of complex physiology of swallowing such as mechanism of laryngeal closure for airway protection, pharyngeal constriction, and UES opening has increased and new insights have been revealed. In clinical settings, treatment-oriented evaluation of dysphagia pathophysiology has been promoted. It has been used for diagnostic and preoperative evaluation for pain or clicking sensation during swallowing. Application of virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR) systems, or spatial display using the acquired images from CT in three dimensions enhances the educational applications of CT. Summary: The application of swallowing CT has resulted in advanced of swallowing research, clinical practice, and education.