title: Dysphagia aortica: a fatal delay in diagnosis.
abstract: Extrinsic esophageal compression leading to dysphagia is an uncommon and late presentation of large thoracic aortic aneurysm named dysphagia aortica. Herein, we report an 86-year-old man who presented with 1-week duration of chest pain, backache, and dysphagia and was eventually diagnosed as dysphagia aortica. Our patient developed progressive dyspnea due to tracheal compression and failed surgery. The case illustrates the importance of early identification of the rare entity of dysphagia especially in elderly cases with cardiovascular disease with complaint of undetermined dysphagia accompanied with chest pain and backache.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: ericliao0217@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chen-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Chung
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsien-Kuo
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ren-Jy
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ben
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hau-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male