Kyphosis, a rare cause of dysphagia

Abstract

Degenerative kyphosis is mostly asymptomatic. When symptomatic, pain and humping of the back are the commonest features. Dysphagia associated with kyphosis is a rare presentation, though it is otherwise common in older people due to various reasons. We report the case of an 81-year-old kyphotic woman who presented with dysphagia. On barium swallow examination, she was found to have an acute bend in the mid-oesophagus leading to narrowing, secondary to the kyphosis. © The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.