Julia K. Ellerston

This pilot study aims to identify characteristic A‐mode ultrasound features relevant to noninvasive detection of esophageal bolus transit in the proximal esophagus. Ultrasound signals at a lateral neck site were obtained via a single‐element ultrasonic transducer with synchronous videofluoroscopic swallowing studies images of swallows of differing viscosities in 21 adult dysphagia outpatients. Characteristic ultrasound features were extracted to differentiate a bolus‐filled from a collapsed esophagus. From 21 subjects, 412 swallows exhibited 4 reproducible waveform patterns associated with bolus transit as displayed in a heatmap: (1) Strong Reflectors ; (2) Echo Shifts ; (3) Distal Acoustic Enhancement ; and (4) Speckling : One or more of these features were observed in the swallow series for all 21 subjects. Distinct acoustic waveform features acquired by single‐element ultrasonic transducers can identify bolus transit through the cervical esophagus.