A Case of Spontaneous Massive Pharyngeal Bleeding Caused by Anterior Cervical Osteophytes / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Large anterior cervical osteophytes occur in the process of degeneration of the cervical spine or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. Extensive cervical spine osteophytes can produce dysphagia and laryngeal symptoms, including hoarseness, dysphonia, dyspnea and etc. But spontaneous bleeding is rare manifestation. Dysphagia and airway obstruction can be treated by surgical excision of osteophytes if conservative support fails. We present a case of a 76-year-old patient with massive bleeding from posterior hypopharyngeal wall and progressive dysphagia. When angiographic embolization and endoscopic bleeding control failed, the patient died of uncontrolled hemorrhage, and the subsequent disseminated intravascular coagulation and multi-organ failure.