Hypopharyngeal venous malformation presenting with foreign body sensation and dysphagia

Abstract

Objective: Review the importance of imaging selection and clinicoanatomic correlation for a vascular malformations presenting with unique symptomatology.

Methods: Case study and literature review.

Results: A 64-year-old female presented with globus and dysphagia ongoing for 40 years. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy discovered a hypopharyngeal mass. A CT scan showed a soft tissue mass with shotty calcifications. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed a bluish compressible mass. MRI showed T2 hyperintensity with heterogeneous enhancement resulting in the diagnosis of a low-flow vascular malformation.

Conclusions: All globus is not equal. Attention to symptoms, anatomy, and imaging selection is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular malformations uniquely presenting with dysphagia.