Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis of the cervical spine: an underestimated cause of dysphagia and airway obstruction

Background context: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a common but underdiagnosed condition relating to ossification of spinal ligaments that can cause compression of the esophagus and trachea. According to case reports, dysphagia or airway obstruction resulting from DISH is a rare occurrence.

Purpose: This study was intended to identify all published cases of dysphagia and/or airway obstruction resulting from DISH to increase the epidemiologic/clinical knowledge of these related conditions.

Study design: A systematic review of the literature was performed.

Methods: The articles resulting from the systematic PubMed/EMBASE search of the literature were closely read, and predefined parameters were scored.

Results: The search yielded a total of 118 articles (95 case reports and 23 case series) describing 204 patients with dysphagia and/or airway obstruction resulting from DISH. The number of cases demonstrated a steady increase from 1980 to 2009. This might be a real effect not ascribable to publication bias or expansion of the medical literature alone.

Conclusions: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis as a cause of dysphagia and/or airway obstruction may be an increasing and underappreciated phenomenon. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia and airway obstruction.