Dysphagia in a Patient With Lewy Body Dementia and Incidental Anterior Cervical Osteophyte: A Case Report

TL;DR

This case report describes a patient with Lewy body dementia and dysphagia caused by an anterior cervical osteophyte.

Contribution

The report highlights the importance of considering physical causes like cervical osteophytes in dysphagia cases involving neurodegenerative disorders.

Findings

Dysphagia in a patient with Lewy body dementia was linked to an anterior cervical osteophyte.

Upper GI endoscopy revealed no internal obstruction, but neck pain led to the discovery of the osteophyte via CT scan.

The case emphasizes the need to assess coexisting conditions in elderly patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract

One of the common problems affecting the elderly is dysphagia, which can be brought on by several things, including the presence of anterior cervical osteophytes. In this case study, a patient with Lewy body dementia is shown to have a case of dysphagia. The patient's primary complaint was dysphagia, which prompted questions regarding the development of underlying Lewy body dementia combined with gradual cognitive deterioration and motor control problems. An upper GI endoscopy was conducted during the patient's hospitalization after a barium swallow suggested esophageal obstruction but found no internal obstruction or any other abnormalities. Following the endoscopic procedure, the patient complained of neck aches. An anterior cervical osteophyte was subsequently discovered by computed tomography, which may have been the primary cause of the patient's dysphagia. The importance of considering coexisting medical conditions in elderly individuals, as well as the significance of promptly assessing and diagnosing dysphagia in the presence of neurodegenerative disorders such as Lewy body dementia, is emphasized by this example.

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