[Forestier syndrome. A rare cause of dysphagia and dyspnea]

Of the many diseases presenting some kind of dysphagia, Forestier's syndrome is perhaps one of the rarest. In American literature DISH, or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, is the most commonly used term. The authors present a case, a 57-year-old man from Eritrea, whose only complaints were dysphagia and some breathing problems. Lateral X-ray revealed radiologic changes in the cervical vertebral column, fairly typical for Forestier's syndrome, with large osteophytes and extensive ossification on the anterior border, reaching from the level of the second down to the seventh cervical vertebra. The radiographs also showed bulging of the pre-vertebral soft parts into the air column of the pharynx. Protruding osteophytes were surgically removed, with improvement of the patient's symptoms. A review of the clinical and radiological characteristics of the syndrome is also given and possible therapeutic measures are mentioned.