Korean J Intern Med.  2013 Sep;28(5):614-618. 10.3904/kjim.2013.28.5.614.

A rare cause of dysphagia: compression of the esophagus by an anterior cervical osteophyte due to ankylosing spondylitis

• Albayrak I
• Bagcaci S
• Salli A
• Kucuksen S
• Ugurlu H

• KMID: 1780112
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2013.28.5.614

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatological disease affecting the axial skeleton with various extra-articular complications. Dysphagia due to a giant anterior osteophyte of the cervical spine in AS is extremely rare. We present a 48-year-old male with AS suffering from progressive dysphagia to soft foods and liquids. Esophagography showed an anterior osteophyte at C5-C6 resulting in esophageal compression. The patient refused surgical resection of the osteophyte and received conservative therapy. However, after 6 months there was no improvement in dysphagia. This case illustrates that a large cervical osteophyte may be the cause of dysphagia in patients with AS and should be included in the diagnostic workup in early stages of the disease.

Keyword

Spondylitis, ankylosing; Deglutition disorders; Osteophyte; Cervical spine; Esophageal compression

MeSH Terms

Cervical Vertebrae/*pathology/radiography
Deglutition
Deglutition Disorders/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology/therapy
Esophageal Stenosis/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology/therapy
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Osteophyte/diagnosis/*etiology/therapy
Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*complications/diagnosis/therapy
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment Outcome