title: Oral Burning With Dysphagia and Weight Loss.
abstract: Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by an abnormal pain regulation. Widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance are the prevalent symptoms. When unusual symptoms are overbearingly predominant at clinical presentation, the diagnosis becomes challenging.We report on the case of a patient with fibromyalgia, who presented with dysphagia, odynophagia, and glossodynia as prevalent symptoms. Difficulty in swallowing gradually developed over a month prior hospitalization, and worsened progressively so that nourishment and fluid intake were impeded.Because anemia with mild iron deficiency was found, esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed, but no lesions were seen in the upper digestive tract. Levels of zinc and vitamin B12 were normal. Intense pain at pelvis and the inferior limbs, which was at a first glance referred to as osteoarthrosis, associated with oral symptoms and feeling of being in the clouds allowed us to diagnose fibromyalgia. Amitriptyline was used, with relief of symptoms.Although oropharyngeal symptoms were occasionally reported in fibromyalgia, they are often overlooked. The present case, therefore, testifies the need to consider the diagnosis of fibromyalgia when the patient presents with such symptoms that cannot be readily explained on other grounds.
authors.affiliation: From the Internal Medicine (TMS, GR, GPR) and Nephrology (LC), Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa Maria
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Seccia
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossitto
authors.forename: Lorenzo A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Calò
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005926:Glossalgia / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015431:Weight Loss