Pseudodysphagia Due to Omohyoid Muscle Syndrome

Abstract

Omohyoid muscle syndrome (OMS) is a rare clinical condition that has the pathognomonic feature of the appearance of a lateral neck mass when swallowing due to dysfunction of the omohyoid muscle (OH). We present two cases of typical OMS with electrophysiologic and dynamic imaging studies. The study results indicate that OMS is caused mainly by the loosening of the fascial attachment to the intermediate tendon of the OH. The characteristic clinical features and pathomechanism underlying OMS are also discussed.

Sternohyoid muscle syndrome

“…We suspect that patients with sternohyoid syndrome demonstrate symptoms similar to omohyoid syndrome. Dynamic CT scan and realtime ultrasonography also provide useful information about strap muscles [8,13,15,16]. CT scan showed no abnormal finding of the sternohyoid and omohyoid muscles, which indicates that CT and ultrasound cannot be definite diagnostic tools of sternohyoid or omohyoid syndromes.…”

“…CT scan showed no abnormal finding of the sternohyoid and omohyoid muscles, which indicates that CT and ultrasound cannot be definite diagnostic tools of sternohyoid or omohyoid syndromes. Kim et al also revealed that needle electromyography showed no abnormal findings [15].…”

“…The diagnosis of a sternohyoid syndrome is through symptoms and history taking. The patients have dysphagia or a palpable mass during swallowing, the same as with omohyoid syndrome [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Yet, reviewing the literature, omohyoid syndrome typically shows multiple symptoms.…”

“…They suggested an abnormal or deep cervical fascia connected to the intermediate tendon of the omohyoid muscle as a cause of pain. Kim et al proposed that loosened fascial attachment of the intermediate tendon allows relatively free motion of the omohyoid muscle and also elevates the overlying sternocleidomastoid muscle [15].…”

Theory and practice of laparoscopic surgery against omohyoid muscle syndrome

“…In OMS patients ( Figure 1B), the most important pathology change is loosening of the IT tendon sheath (2). After that, the OM becomes shortened and fibrosis occurs because of atrophy of disuse and degeneration.…”