Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between lesion sites of stroke and swallowing function. Methods Ischemic stroke patients consecutively admitted into the stroke unit were screened in this study. The new and previous lesion sites of stroke, dysphagia and aspiration under videofluoroscopy (VF) were recorded and their relation was analyzed. Results 211 patients were included and 169 patients had completed the MRI and VF examination. 159 patients had dysphagia and 94 had aspiration under VF. 72 patients (9 missing) were found disorder in oral phase and 150 in pharyngeal phase. There was no significantly difference in dysphagia under VF and in aspiration among different lesion sites (P>0.05). Patients with stroke in medulla tended to happen aspiration (P=0.056). Stroke sites above the tentorium of cerebellum (P=0.028) or above medulla (P=0.005) may cause disorder in oral phase. Conclusion The stroke injury in brain cortex, white matter, brainstem and cerebellum or hemisphere could lead to dysphagia and aspiration. The injury of medulla may cause aspiration. Lesion of brain hemisphere or above the medulla could result disorder in oral phase of swallowing.

Key words: stroke, lesion site, videofluoroscopy, dysphagia, aspiration