Forestier’s Disease (Vertebral Ankylosing Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis)

Abstract

Forestier’s disease, or ankylosing hyperostosis of the cervical spine, or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis which has been described to cause dysphagia, dyspnea, laryngeal stridor, snoring, vocal cord paralysis, hoarseness appears very rarely. Two cases of severe respiratory distress due to bilateral vocal cord paralysis with Forestier’s disease are presented. The clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic work-up and the prognostic outcome of the laryngeal pathology are discussed.

Keywords

• forestier’s disease
• diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis
• bilateral vocal cord paralysis.