title: An Unusual Cause of Dysphagia: A Large Expectorated Arteriovenous Malformation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular malformations are generally detected in childhood or adolescence with first presentations in adulthood being rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 52-year-old female with threatened compromise of her airway after expectorating a massive arteriovenous malformation anchored at the supraglottis. The only preceding symptom was dysphagia. The lesion was resected, the patient had a quick recovery, and she has shown no evidence of recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although uncommon, vascular malformations of the supraglottis or hypopharynx should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient presenting with dysphagia because of the potential to cause disastrous airway compromise. Although a lesion presenting acutely mandates a definitive airway plan, when clinically possible, computed tomography scan and indirect laryngoscopy can provide useful information for the airway and operative teams.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Cairns Base Hospital, Cairns North, Queensland, Australia ; School of Medicine, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Aaron S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Cairns Base Hospital, Cairns North, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Rivindi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gunasena
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia ; Department of Surgery, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Nathan R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Cairns Base Hospital, Cairns North, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kennedy
keywords: Arteriovenous malformations; deglutition disorders; head and neck neoplasms; obstructed airway; vascular malformations