[Dysphagia in Forestier's disease (vertebral ankylosing hyperostosis)]

Forestier's disease is characterized by the formation of vertebral bridges which joint the ventral aspect of the vertebral bodies by ossification of the anterior vertebral longitudinal ligament. A 58-year-old man with idiopathic ankylotic hyperostosis had pronounced osteophytosis of the neck that produced the unusual symptom of dysphagia. The literature is reviewed and the pathogenic criteria, diagnosis, and therapy are discussed.