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Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis

Case contributed by Varun Babu
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Long standing neck pain and restricted range of motion with difficulty in swallowing

Patient Data

Age: 60 years
Gender: Male

Dense ossification fusing multiple cervical vertebrae anteriorly with T2 high signal intensity replacing C5-6 and C6-7 discs. Mild thickening of prevertebral soft tissue.

Flowing dense osteophytes across the anterior margin of multiple cervical vertebrae. 

Case Discussion

Flowing fused osteophytes along the anterior margin of the spine is typically described in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. The difficulty in swallowing this patient experiences is due to the extrinsic mass effect of the most prominent anterior osteophyte at C3-4. 

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