Transfer dysphagia in a patient with the rare combination of scleroderma and ankylosing spondylitis

Esophageal involvement in scleroderma is generally confined to the body, manifested manometrically as impaired motility and decreased lower esophageal sphincter tone. Pharyngeal dysfunction has not been recognized. This is a report of a patient with the rare combination of scleroderma and ankylosing spondylitis, whose presenting complaint was transfer dysphagia due to impaired relaxation of the upper esophageal spincter as a result of tight overlying cervical skin, or sclerodermatous involvement of the sphincter itself.