A Case of Dysphagia Aortica in an Elderly Patient

Abstract

Dysphagia aortica is a mechanical dysphagia caused by compression of the esophagus by the dilated aorta, and it occurs mainly in elderly women with short stature, hypertension and kyphosis. We present the case of an 85-years-old woman who developed dysphagia aortica associated with a thoracic aortic aneurysm. The patient presented with dysphagia to solid food, which started several weeks ago. Chest computed tomography showed compression of the esophagus by a dilated thoracic aortic aneurysm. Extrinsic compression of the esophagus by the thoracic aorta was also shown in the barium swallow test. With diet control and the treatment of associated heart failure, the dysphagia symptom improved rapidly. Dysphagia aortica is a rare cause of dysphagia but can be treated by conservative or surgical treatment and should not be ignored.

Keywords

• aortic aneurysm
• dysphagia
• vascular compression