An Uncommon Cause of Dysphagia in a 35 Year Old Male.

Abstract

Typical causes of intermittent esophageal dysphagia in a young person include eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal dysmotility and esophageal rings. We report a 35-year-old male with a one year history of intermittent dysphagia to solid foods. After the endoscopic removal of a food bolus, a barium swallow revealed extrinsic compression of the proximal esophagus. Computed tomography angiogram revealed an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) coursing behind the esophagus, suggesting the diagnosis of dysphagia lusoria. Although rare, dysphagia lusoria represents an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of intermittent esophageal dysphagia in a young adult.