TABLE 3.
Frequency and Severity of α-Synuclein-Positive Lesions in Pharyngeal Sensory Nerves in Patients With PD
| ISLN |
IX |
PSB-X |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case No. | LNs (range) | Severity of Lesions |
LNs (range) | Severity of Lesions |
LNs (range) | Severity of Lesions |
| PD 1 | 25 (18–31) | ++ | 13 (9–17) | + | 8 (3–14) | + |
| PD 2 | 9 (6–13) | + | 4 (2–7) | + | 3 (1–7) | + |
| PD 3 | 15 (10–22) | + | 10 (6–14) | + | 4 (2–6) | + |
| PD 4 | 11 (7–15) | + | 0 0 | − | 0 0 | − |
| PD 5 | 30 (20–39) | ++ | 18 (11–25) | + | 10 (5–16) | + |
| PD 6 | 63 (56–68) | +++ | 25 (19–32) | ++ | 22 (12–34) | ++ |
| PD 7 | 8 (4–13) | + | 0 0 | − | 0 0 | − |
| PD 8 | 22 (13–32) | ++ | 9 (5–14) | + | 6 (1–10) | + |
| PD 9 | 13 (8–17) | + | 4 (2–7) | + | 0 0 | − |
| PD 10 | 52 (43–59) | +++ | 23 (9–34) | ++ | 7 (4–11) | + |
| Mean (range) | 25 (8–63) | 11 (0–25) | 6 (0–22) | |||
The severity of α-synuclein-positive lesions in the pharyngeal sensory nerves was rated on the basis of the mean density of the Lewy neurites (LNs) and assessed semiquantitatively using an arbitrary grading system: −, no lesions; +, 1–20 lesions/field (mild); ++, 21–50 lesions/field (moderate); +++, >50 lesions/field (severe). ISLN, internal superior laryngeal nerve; IX, glossopharyngeal nerve; PSB-X, pharyngeal sensory branch of the X nerve.