Abstract
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH, Forestier's disease, ankylosing hyperostosis) can manifest as large anterior osteophytes in the cervical spine region. Clinical symptoms are often mild, taking the form of unspecified local pain and blockades in the cervical spine.
Swallowing or phonation difficulties are rather rare. If also massive posterior osteophytes are present, they can compress the nerve roots or the spinal cord.
The article describes the diagnosing and surgical treatment of anterior osteophytes which can cause swallowing disturbances. We report 4 patients with swallowing disturbance as the dominant symptom.
Two patients reported difficulty in swallowing of solid food, one patient had local spasms and pains in the front part of the neck in addition to the above problems. One patient suffered from compression of nerve structures due to osteoproductive changes and instability of the cervical spine in addition to swallowing difficulties.