Dysphagia lusoria: a rare cause of dysphagia

ABSTRACT

Dysphagia lusoria is a rare cause of dysphagia. It is usually due to a combination of an aberrant right subclavian artery and either a close origination of the common carotid trunk. A middle-aged man presenting with dysphagia due to an aberrant right subclavian artery and closely originating carotid arteries less than 1 cm apart is presented. Barium swallow demonstrated the characteristic oblique external compression effect on the upper posterior oesophagus. Oesphagoscopy confirmed an extrinsic defect in the upper oesophagus which was pulsatile. Dysphagia lusoria is a clinical entity that is not well recognized and should be considered in patients with upper oesphageal dysphagia in whom the cause is not obvious (AU)