Neuromyelitis optica: an elusive cause of dysphagia

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare neurological condition infrequently associated with dysphagia on initial presentation. We describe the case of a 54-year-old woman who presented multiple times to healthcare professionals with severe vomiting, followed by sudden profound dysphagia. Her diagnosis was elusive, initially attributed to achalasia cardia and subsequently to stroke. A dorsal medullary lesion was revealed on MRI of the brain, which involved and extended beyond the area postrema. The patient required percutaneous gastrostomy, and repeated aspiration pneumonia complicated her clinical course. After aquaporin-4 antibodies returned positive, a diagnosis of NMOSD was made and she improved with immunosuppression. We discuss the process of lesion localisation and aetiology determination, as well as the difficulties that this case presented. Our hope is that this report will facilitate earlier diagnosis in similar cases in the future.