Jun

21

2022

What is the Plummer-Vinson syndrome?

By William Aird

A rare disorder associated with triad of:

  • Postcricoid dysphagia which is:
    • Typically painless, intermittent or progressive over years, and limited to solids
    • Occasionally associated with weight loss
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Upper esophageal webs

Other features:

  • Most of the patients are white middle-aged women, in the fourth to seventh decade of life.
  • The dysphagia is usually painless and intermittent or progressive over years, limited to solids and sometimes associated with weight loss.
  • Reported to be a risk factor for developing squamous cell carcinoma of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Learn more here.