The corticobulbar tract is a potential neural pathway involved in swallowing. The frontal operculum, insular cortex, corona radiata, and internal capsule, which are frequently involved in MCA strokes, are locations in which lesions cause dysphagia. It was unclear whether the locations are linked to the corticobulbar tract or whether corticobulbar tract integrity is associated with dysphagia severity. This study was done to assess the association between corticobulbar tract integrity and dysphagia severity after MCA stroke.
30 dysphagic patients after MCA stroke and 27 healthy individuals were taken as controls were examined. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between corticobulbar tract integrity and dysphagia severity.
The TV of the affected corticobulbar tract was lower in dysphagic patients than in healthy controls. According to dysphagia severity, the TV of the unaffected corticobulbar tract was higher in the mild dysphagia group than in the moderate‐to‐severe dysphagia group. TV of the unaffected corticobulbar tract was independently associated with dysphagia severity according to the logistic regression model.
The corticobulbar tract was affected after MCA stroke and may be associated with dysphagia.
Reference: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.14387
