Dysphagia due to cervical osteophytosis.

Cervical lesions caused by diffused idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis may cause compression of the upper respiratory and digestive paths. Horizontal anterior osteophytes that are not fused can cause dysphagia and dysphonia, large prevertebral ossifications extended or segmental may cause difficulty in breathing. A series of 6 cases with dysphagia, dysphonia, dyspnea due to duffused idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, with cervical lesions is reported. In 3 cases, affected with moderate dysphagia, conservative treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and a proper diet allowed for the symptoms to be controlled, and for spontaneous evolution of the lesions to occur, with fusion and remodeling of the compressive osteophytes. These patients continue to be asymptomatic 2-7 years after the first observation. In 3 cases affected with severe respiratory and/or nutrition deficit, the osteophytes and ossifications were surgically removed by prevascular extrapharyngeal approach, and rapid resolution of symptoms ensued. The follow-up 1-2 years after treatment showed that patients were asymptomatic and that radiographically there was no recurrence of lesions.