An unusual presentation of thoracic diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), also known as Forestier's disease and Forestier and Rotes-Querol disease, is a systemic condition characterized by calcification and ossification of ligaments and entheses which often mainly affects the thoracic spine. Anterior osteophyte compression of the esophagus resulting in dysphagia and dyspepsia is extremely rare in symptomatic thoracic DISH. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old male presented with dyspepsia and dysphagia for 10 months. A large beak-like anterior osteophyte, detected by a radiographic study and by a Barium esophagogram test at the T9-T10 level of the thoracic spine, was established by gastrointestinal medicine specialists to be the cause of the symptoms. The large anterior osteophyte was removed using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). At the one-year follow-up, the patient's symptoms had significantly improved and there was no recurrence of the osteophyte or the dyspepsia and dysphagia. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Thoracic DISH rarely presents with dysphagia and dyspepsia due to the greater mobility of the esophagus in the area of the thoracic spine than in the area of the cervical spine. This is the first reported case of symptomatic thoracic DISH treated by anterior thoracic osteophytectomy with VATS. The treatment was effective with no post-operative complications. CONCLUSION: Anterior thoracic osteophytectomy with VATS is an effective surgical treatment option for this condition.