Esophageal Webs

Abstract

SINCE the original descriptions by Paterson1 and Kelly2 in England, very little has been published on webs of the esophagus. In this country, the clinical findings were described by Vinson3 and other early reporters4 on the association of dysphagia with hypochromic anemia. They emphasized the pallor and atrophy of the buccal and esophageal mucosa, spooning of the nails, fissures at the corners of the mouth and smooth tongue, but webs or other membranous obstructions of the esophagus were not noted. Various theories of the cause of the dysphagia developed. In the best known of these it was attributed to spasm . . .