VOLUME-DEPENDENT PULMONARY ASPIRATION OF A SWALLOWED RADIONUCLIDE BOLUS

The radionuclide salivagram was introduced as a simple physiologic tec hnique to document the aspiration of saliva in patients with chronic l ung disease. We previously reported positive studies to be prevalent i n patients with neuromuscular incoordination, as with cerebral palsy, or after surgery involving the upper airway. Many patients referred fo r a salivagram, however, have an apparent intact swallowing mechanism and are better challenged with a tagged bolus.