Cervical
osteophytes may be seen in
diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis,
ankylosing spondylitis, posttraumatic, postoperative, degenerative causes,
cervical spondylosis, and infectious
spondylitis. A cervical
osteophyte is very rarely considered among the differentials for symptoms of
dysphagia. C5-C6 as well as C6-C7 being a site of greater load-bearing and mobility, the propensity to form
osteophytes is high, with a small
osteophyte leading to local mass effect. A 42-year-old male patient presented with mild
dyspnea and significant
dysphagia since 8 months, accompanied by
dysphonia,
weight loss, and intermittent aspiration. Clinical examination including neurological examination was normal. A
barium swallow showed that
osteophytes were severely protruding and displacing the lower pharynx and the proximal esophagus anterosuperiorly. The patient underwent surgical removal of the
osteophyte through Smith-Robinson approach. Complaints of
dysphagia were significantly decreased in postoperative period. A thorough evaluation is necessary to rule out other causes of
dysphagia. Surgical management of this uncommon condition might be considered after confirmation of the
osteophyte to be the offending lesion as it has favorable clinical outcomes.