Pharyngolaryngeal Abnormalities viewed via nasoendoscopy associated with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults: A Scoping Review.

The review excluded studies using videofluoroscopy or other assessment tools, limiting generalizability to FEES specifically. Most included studies were observational or case series, preventing causal conclusions. Heterogeneous terminology and outcome measures across studies made direct comparison difficult. Many PLAs were reported concurrently, making it impossible to isolate the effect of a single abnormality.

The study was funded by the University of Technology Sydney. No other conflicts of interest were declared.

Do not assume that every abnormality seen on FEES causes dysphagia. The review found strong statistical associations only for a subset of abnormalities, such as unilateral vocal fold motion impairment and edema. For many other findings, the evidence is limited to co-occurrence in case reports or small studies, meaning they may be incidental rather than causative.