DYSPHAGIA AORTICA- A Case Report

Dysphagia aortica is a rare cause of difficulty in swallowing resulting from extrinsic compression of the oesophagus by an aneurysm or by a tortuous and elongated thoracic aorta. Dysphagia aortica not related to an aneurysm is usually seen in the elderly, especially in female patients with hypertensive cardiomyopathy or kyphosis. However, it may occur in the aging population without underlying aneurysm or kyphosis. Here in, we present a case of an elderly female who came to our hospital with complaints of dysphagia of 2 months duration. We have attempted to grade the dysphagia aortica by Computed Tomography. This Grading is not described in the literature so far. We lay emphasis on the etiological factors and radiological findings and treatment of dysphagia aortica based on the grading. Computed Tomography of the neck, chest and abdomen revealed classical findings of dysphagia aortica.