Disfagia cervical espondilótica por hiperostosis esquelética difusa idiopática en un paciente joven / Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis causing dysphagia in a young patient

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is an under-diagnosed condition producing flowing ossification of the antero-lateral ligaments of the spine. Affecting predominantly males over 65years old, it is an unusual cause of dysphagia and dysphonia. We report a 45-year-old mole with a three years history of dysphonia and three months of dysphagia. The initial diagnosis was gastroesophageal reflux, and an endoscopy ruled out esophageal luminal pathology. Cervical spine radiographs showed ossification of the cervical anterior longitudinal ligament with large, prominent osteophytes from C3 to C6, producing esophageal and upper airway compression; these images were compatible with DISH. Cervical osteophyte resection resulted in complete resolution of symptoms. DISH should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia and dysphonia.

Hiperostosis esquelética idiopática difusa (DISH), respecto de dos casos / Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hiperostosis, respect of two cases

La hiperostosis esquelética idiopática difusa (DISH) o enfermedad de Forestier es una patología que presenta como principal manifestación la osificación del ligamento longitudinal anterior (LLA) y la formación de puentes óseos intervertebrales. Las repercusiones otorrinolaringológicas con poca frecuencia son descritas, siendo la disfagia, la disfonía y la disnea los síntomas más comunes. Presentamos dos casos clínicos de DISH en pacientes de sexo masculino de setenta y cuatro años y otro de setenta y un años respectivamente, con disfagia de varias semanas de evolución asociado a disfonía y disnea en un caso. Realizamos la discusión de ambos casos y de las manifestaciones otorrinolaringológicas de esta patología.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hiperostosis (DISH) or Forester's disease is a pathology characterized by the ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) and the formation of intervertebral osseous bridges. The otolaryngology repercussions are rarely described, dysphagia, hoarseness and dyspnea being the most common symptoms. We present a clinical case of two patients with DISH in a 74 year-old male patient and another of 71 year-old respectively, suffering from several weeks of dysphagia associated with dysphonia and dyspnea in one case. We are going to discuss both cases together with the otolaryngological manifestations of this pathology.

Forestier's disease causing dysphagia

Forestier's disease, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis [DISH] is an ossifying diathesis of unknown aetiology. Dish is characterised by flowing ossification along the anterior and anterolateral aspects of at least four contiguous vertebrae, radiolucent line between the deposited bone and the anterior vertebral surface, preserved intervertebral disc height, absence of bony ankylosis of the posterior spinal facet joints, and without erosion, sclerosis or bony ankylosis of the sacroiliac joints. Although Forestier's disease has been reported in 6-12% of autopsy cases, clinical presentation is rare and consists mostly of swallowing disorders. Most of these patients are treated conservatively in the initial stages and later by excision of the osteophytes. Most of the cases have been reported by otolaryngologists and orthopaedists. As the subject is not common in the neurosurgical literature, we report a case of Forestier's disease with progressive dysphagia and review of the literature