Dysphagia Caused by Anterior Cervical Osteophytes: A Rare Entity!

Abstract

When we go through the medical literature, anterior cervical osteophytes are generally considered to be asymptomatic. However, on multiple occasions, there have been reports of large anterior cervical osteophytes giving rise to dysphagia in elderly patients. In our article, we will be discussing a 79-year-old male patient who presented with dysphagia. We thoroughly evaluated this patient for a possible cause of his symptoms. He had to undergo multiple investigations, including an upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy, a lateral neck X-ray, and a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the neck and chest. As well, we also arranged neurology and neurosurgical referrals. Ultimately, we could confidently conclude that he was having dysphagia due to anterior cervical osteophytes. Other than patient evaluation, we have also briefly discussed in this article the treatment modalities and how to choose the best treatment modality for a patient with symptomatic anterior cervical osteophytes. Categories: General Surgery, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery