1999 Volume 54 Pages 62-64
A 49-year-old woman had a 23-year history of progressive dysphagia and weight loss. She visited a clinic complaining that she was unable to swallow a tablet. Endoscopic examination was attempted but endoscope could not pass through the stenosis of the cervical esophagus, so she was referred to our medical center. Her esophagogram showed an esophageal web, and laboratory studies showed iron-deficiency anemia. Iron treatment was administrated and the web was perforated with a balloon dilater under endoscopic guidance. One month later, the patient had no dysphagia, and no further dilatations were required. Dysphagia with iron-deficiency anemia, esonphageal web, glossitis, and koilonychia in middle-aged women constitute Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) . Iron replacement therapy will improve the dysphasia in many cases, and symptomatic webs are easily treated by dilation. PVS is associated with an increased incidence of esophageal cancer, and surveillance endoscopy is recommended.
