[Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis as a cause of dysphagia. A case report]

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a non-inflammatory stiffening disease of the vertebral spine due to extensive bone formation, often causing complete bridging of neighbouring intervertebral spaces. Except for the spine, other parts of the skeleton are rarely affected. Although in 78% of all cases the cervical spine is involved, dysphagia is rare (17%), being caused either by mechanical obstruction or by para-oesophageal inflammation due to irritation at the osteophyte processes. The diagnosis may be established by conventional X-ray of the spine, oesophagogram or CT. The paper describes a patient presenting with dysphagia caused by spondylophyte blockage of the cervical spine.