Oropharyngeal dysphagia and anatomical malformations

Abstract

Introduction. Oropharyngeal dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, may be due to anatomic abnormality, including cervical malformations. A comprehensive assessment and an individualized care, which may include multiple specialists, are crucial in preventing complications and improving the quality of life for both the patient and family. A clinical case is presented that illustrates the relationship between oropharyngeal dysphagia and its complications in a patient with craniocervical and pulmonary malformations.

Case report. 3-year-old girl with a complex medical history including congenital cervical bone malformation, who presents with recurrent episodes of pneumonia following her last surgical intervention at that level. Given her medical history, aspirational etiology is considered as first diagnostic possibility with studies confirming dysphagia to liquids, compensable with dietary adaptation. Despite adequate treatment of dysphagia the persistence of episodes, always in the same location, makes us reconsider the etiology. The chest CT revealed a pulmonary malformation at that level and the patient underwent a successful thoracoscopic lobectomy. Currently, she has not had recurrent pneumonia and, thanks to treatment by a speech therapist, she has shown progressive improvement in her dysphagia.

Conclusions. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is an underdiagnosed symptom. It is essential we begin to codify it in reports and records. There are screening tools to facilitate the diagnosis at any level of health care that should be used especially in at risk population. It requires periodic reevaluation as it is a dynamic symptom.