Odynophagia in individuals with neck pain: the importance of differential diagnosis in physiotherapy practice

Odynophagia refers to painful swallowing caused by various underlying factors that must be excluded to determine the best treatment approach. Neck pain is a debilitating condition requiring treatment in rehabilitative settings. There are several circumstances in which odynophagia and neck pain coexist, such as tendinitis of the longus colli muscle and paravertebral calcification, prevertebral and retropharyngeal abscess, esophageal perforation, aortic dissection, thyroid cartilage fracture, thyrohyoid ligament syndrome, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema, and after physical exercise. Physiotherapists are professionals most likely to encounter individuals with neck pain and provide interventions such as massage, manual therapy, exercise, and electrotherapy. Therefore, it is important to recognize that neck pain can stem from different clinical conditions that require interventions other than physiotherapy. A differential diagnosis is crucial to ensure appropriate referrals for therapeutic interventions.