ROENTGENOLOGY OF THE UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT

Abstract

The upper respiratory tract, from the nasopharynx to the carina, has recently become a very important field for roentgenologic diagnosis. The most important factor in diagnosis is a careful study of the soft structures during an examination of the neck. This includes fluoroscopic observations of the movements or changes in lumen of the various portions of the tract during respiration, speech and swallowing, and the making of roentgenograms for records. In all instances the chest should be included, and especially in infants and young children. It seems strange that, following Scheier's studies of speech mechanism in 1909¹and of the swallowing act in 1911,²the publication of Thost's beautiful atlas³recording his observations on the normal and pathologic larynx in 1913 and Iglauer's⁴pioneer work in this country in 1914, the subject of diagnosis of diseases of the upper respiratory tract by roentgen methods should have