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GROWTH PROGRESSION OF FORESTIER’S DiSEASE İN THE CERVICAL SPINE

  • T. Erhan COŞAN
  • Eşref TEL
  • Ali ARSLANTAŞ
  • Murat VURAL

J Turk Spinal Surg 1999;10(1):24-26

Forestier’s disease is known as a diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and the nature of its progression is not completely understood. A 50-year-old female was admitted with neck pain, headaches for 22 years and non-progressive difficulty in swallowing for 10 years. İn 1977, there was a small osteoid formation in front of the C5-6 intervertebral disc space. By 1985, this had grovvn larger and had come into contact with new osteophytes in C5 and C6 bodies. New osteophytes subsequently combined with the ossification in the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) at C5 and C6. İn 1991, new osteophytes were observed in C4 and C7 bodies. İn 1999, there was a large skeletal hypertrophy in ALL at C4-5-6 associated with large new osteophytes in C3, C7 and T1 bodies. This report illustrates gradual radiological progression of a small osteoid formation to DISH. İt should be considered that small osteoid formations may have a potential growth progression to DISH.

Keywords: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, Dysphagia, Progression