Aspiration Pneumonia Secondary to Giant Cervical Osteophyte Formation (Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis or Forrestier's Disease): A Case Report

An 80-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with recurrent right-sided aspiration pneumonia, found on barium swallow to be due to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (Forrestier's disease) of the cervical spine, with the formation of a giant cervical osteophyte. He was treated conservatively with a feeding gastrostomy. The medical literature concerning this unusual cause of dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia is reviewed.