[An accessory retropharyngeal bone as a rare cause of dysphagia]

A 77-year-old woman had a history of several-years of dysphagia. On presentation, a submucosal mass impinging on the left oropharynx was present. CT-scans showed a bony structure isolated from the cervical column. The patient underwent complete surgical resection using a transoral approach. Histological examination confirmed the radiological finding; a new formation of bone surrounded by cartilage with hematopoieses in the bone marrow. Recovery was complete within 2 weeks. Dysphagia due to cervical spine osteophytes, Forestier's disease or progressive ossifying fibrodysplasia is well known. This case adds an isolated retropharyngeal bone formation as a rare cause of dysphagia to the literature.