Background: Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a common syndrome in hospitalized patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Although modified barium swallow study (MBSS) is considered the reference standard test for OD diagnosis and classifying OD severity, it is not routinely used in clinical practice. The objective of our study was to determine whether the [...]

Case Presentation: An 82-year-old male with a history of coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cholangiocarcinoma presented with palpitations. Elevated troponin levels were noted at an outside hospital, he left against medical advice and present to UCLA for further evaluation. He presented with fatigue since his recent first cycle of treatment (cisplatin, gemcitabine, [...]

Case Presentation: An 80-year-old man with past medical history of GERD and hypothyroidism presented to the hospital with a 3-month history of progressive dysphagia, odynophagia, painful tongue swelling, and an associated 40-pound weight loss. Initial physical exam was only notable for left sided tongue swelling that resolved after one day of dexamethasone. Labs during hospitalization [...]

Case Presentation: A 22-year-old woman with history of recurrent sinusitis was admitted with hypoxia, shortness of breath, severe subacute odynophagia, and dysphagia. She was given cefuroxime by her otolaryngologist for a suspected sinus infection earlier in the month, with no effect. She then developed white plaques over her lips and tongue and a severe cough. [...]