Severe hypopharyngeal dysphagia in a patient on chronic steroid treatment.
A 44-year-old Caucasian male who had been on long-term steroid treatment for an unspecified collagen disease was referred to our Unit because of fever, severe hypopharyngeal dysphagia, night sweats and evidence of marked superior vena cava compression. Extrapulmonary disseminated tuberculosis also involving bone and liver was eventually diagnosed and proven by means of specific polymerase chain reaction assay. Antimycobacterial treatment, which led to a dramatic improvement within two months, was protracted for 18 months until the complete return to normal of both clinical and laboratory findings.
Trovato
C
C
Chair of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milan, Italy.
Pometta
R
R
Colucci
A
A
Bardella
M T
MT
Conte
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014386:Tuberculosis, Hepatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D013256:Steroids