Anterior cervical osteophytes as a cause of progressive dysphagia

An uncommon cause of progressive dysphagia may be large cervical osteophytes impinging upon the cervical esophagus. Dysphagia may be due to the mechanical mass effect of a large anterior osteophyte, trapping the esophagus opposite a fixed point such as the cricoid cartilage, or a local inflammatory reaction resulting in cricopharyngeal spasm. We report three patients with progressive dysphagia due to large anterior cervical osteophytes. All three patients were treated with anterior cervical approach with removal of the osteophytes without fusion. A review of the literature in addition to the specific case histories, video fluoroscopic and radiographic findings are presented.