Wang Xin-Wen, Zhang Wen-Zhi
Department of Orthopedics, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, Anhui Province, China.
Spine Center, Department of Orthopedics, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, Anhui Province, China.
World J Clin Cases. 2021 Mar 6;9(7):1639-1645. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i7.1639.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systematic and rheumatic disease, which causes multiple symptoms. However, dysphagia due to the formation of a giant anterior cervical osteophyte is rare in patients with AS.
We present the case of a 65-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with AS and visited the hospital with a complaint of progressive dysphagia. The appropriate imaging examinations indicated that a giant anterior cervical osteo-phyte at C3-4 caused esophageal compression, which led to dysphagia. An operation for resection was performed without complications.
This case demonstrates that a large cervical osteophyte may be the cause of dysphagia in patients with AS, and early accurate diagnosis and surgical treat-ment are very important for the improvement of symptoms. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion are extremely effective and should be taken into consideration.
强直性脊柱炎（AS）是一种系统性风湿性疾病，可引发多种症状。然而，AS患者因形成巨大的颈椎前路骨赘而导致吞咽困难的情况较为罕见。
我们报告一例65岁男性患者，该患者被诊断为AS，因进行性吞咽困难前来就诊。适当的影像学检查表明，C3-4水平的巨大颈椎前路骨赘压迫食管，导致吞咽困难。患者接受了切除手术，未出现并发症。
该病例表明，巨大的颈椎骨赘可能是AS患者吞咽困难的原因，早期准确诊断和手术治疗对于改善症状非常重要。颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术极为有效，应予以考虑。
