A 39-year-old man with an extrinsic esophageal lesion was found to have an anterior herniation of a soft degenerated cervical disc. Only two cases of symptomatic anterior cervical disc herniation have been reported previously. Dysphagia produced by anterior cervical osteophytes is more common and is a recognized clinical entity. Asymptomatic anterior cervical disc herniation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of anterior cervical osteophytes.