Anterior cervical osteophytes causing Dysphagia and paradoxical vocal cord motion leading to dyspnea and dysphonia.
Anterior cervical osteophytes are common and usually asymptomatic in elderly people. Due to mechanical compressions, inflammations, and tissues swelling of osteophytes, patients may be presented with multiple complications, such as dysphagia, dysphonia, dyspnea, and pulmonary aspiration. Paradoxical vocal cord motion is an uncommon disease characterized by vocal cord adductions during inspiration and/or expiration. This condition can create shortness of breath, wheezing, respiratory stridor or breathy dysphonia. We report a rare case demonstrating combined symptoms of dyspnea, dysphonia as well as dysphagia at the same time in a patient with asymptomatic anterior cervical osteophytes. Moreover, this is the first report demonstrating that anterior osteophytes can be a possible etiological factor for paradoxical vocal cord motion that induces serious respiratory symptoms.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Joon Won
JW
Seo
Ji Woong
JW
Park
Jae Chil
JC
Jang
Jae Wook
JW
Kim
Yang Gyun
YG
Lee
Yun Tae
YT
Kim
Seok Min
SM
Lee
Cervical anterior osteophyte; Dysphagia; Paradoxical vocal cord motion