[Ventral cervical spondylophytes as differential diagnosis of neurogenic dysphagia].

BACKGROUND

Ventral cervical spondylophytes can lead to severe dysphagia if they are of sufficient extent and height localization and represent an important differential diagnosis of neurogenic dysphagia, especially in older patients.

OBJECTIVE

Presentation of various etiologies of ventral cervical spondylophytes, specific symptoms and abnormalities of the swallowing function caused by spondylophytes, their manifestation in the instrumental swallowing diagnostics and an outlook on treatment options.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Summary of the current literature on spondylophyte-related dysphagia and an overview of research results regarding differential diagnostic aspects of neurogenic dysphagia.

RESULTS

The manifestation forms of ventral cervical spondylophytes can be very diverse. With respect to dysphagia, disorders of pharyngeal bolus transfer and an increased tendency to aspiration have been observed. The occurrence and severity of the symptoms depend primarily on the extent of the bony attachments and their height localization.

CONCLUSION

In some cases, symptomatic ventral cervical spondylophytes can be a relevant differential diagnosis of neurogenic dysphagia. For a more precise evaluation of the dysphagic symptoms and their association with the spondylophytic outgrowths, a video fluoroscopy of swallowing (VFS) should be added to the fiber endoscopic evaluation (FEES). In most cases, a resection of the bone spurs leads to a significant improvement or even to a complete restitution of the swallowing disorders.