Plummer-Vinson syndrome other diagnostic studies

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Akshun Kalia M.B.B.S.[2]

Overview

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) may be helpful in the diagnosis of Plummer-Vinson syndrome. EGD can directly visualize the upper gastrointestinal tract and aid in diagnosing esophageal webs seen in Plummer-Vinson syndrome. Findings suggestive of esophageal webs include thin elevated mucosal membrane covered by normal squamous epithelium on the walls of esophagus.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) may be done in patients with suspected Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS).^[1]^[2]^[3]

An esophagogastroduodenoscopy can directly visualize the upper gastrointestinal tract and aid in diagnosing esophageal web
The anterior esophageal wall is the most common location for an esophageal web associated with Plummer-Vinson syndrome
On EGD, esophageal web may appear as a thin elevated mucosal membrane covered by normal squamous epithelium
An EGD may also help in identifying an inlet patch (heterotopic gastric mucosa of the proximal esophagus)
EGD with biopsy can also be used to determine the exact histology associated with esophageal webs and rule out malignant transformation such as squamous cell carcinoma

↑ Hoffman RM, Jaffe PE (1995). “Plummer-Vinson syndrome. A case report and literature review”. Arch. Intern. Med. 155 (18): 2008–11. PMID 7575056.
↑ Sreenivas DV, Kumar A, Mannar KV, Babu GR (2002). “Results of Savary-Gilliard dilatation in the management of cervical web of esophagus”. Hepatogastroenterology. 49 (43): 188–90. PMID 11941950.
↑ Demirci F, Savaş MC, Kepkep N, Okan V, Yilmaz M, Büyükberber M, Gülşen MT (2005). “Plummer-Vinson syndrome and dilation therapy: a report of two cases”. Turk J Gastroenterol. 16 (4): 224–7. PMID 16547853.