Korean J Gastrointest Motil.
2002 Jun;8(1):63-67.
A Case of Dysphagia Lusoria
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine and Radiology* Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hjpark21@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Abstract
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Dysphagia lusoria (swallowing difficulty due to trick of nature) is used to describe the symptomatic compression of the esophagus from any anomalous vessel of aortic arch. Aberrant subclavian artery, the most common anomaly of aortic arch can cause dysphagia lusoria by its direct compression of the esophagus or its aneurysmal dilatation. Patient with dysphagia lusoria can be treated with dietary modification, medications (antireflux drugs, prokinetics) in early symptomatic phase, and with surgical correction (via thoracic or extrathoracic approach) in late symptomatic phase or selective cases. We experienced a case of 44-year-old man who suffered from progressive swallowing difficulty for solid foods. We evaluated the possible causes of motor or mechanical dysphagia by esophageal manometry, esophagography, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and chest computerized tomography. We finally diagnosed this case as dysphagia lusoria due to group 3 aberrant left subclavian artery.