title: Updated management strategy for patients with cervical osteophytic dysphagia.
abstract: Anterior cervical osteophytes impinging upon the pharynx or esophagus constitute a rare cause of dysphagia. In severe cases, surgical removal of these osteophytes can provide symptomatic relief. We describe a patient of this type who failed to improve postoperatively, only to be found subsequently to have a carcinoma of the base of the tongue. To assist other clinicians in evaluating similar patients, and also to emphasize the great utility of modern radiologic techniques in these cases, we propose a diagnostic algorithm that incorporates magnetic resonance or computerized tomographic imaging.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Valadka
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kubal
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications