Idiopathic Cervical Esophageal Webs: A Case Report and Literature Review

An esophageal web is a thin and smooth extension of normal esophageal tissue consisting of mucosa and submucosa that can occur anywhere along the length of the esophagus but is typically located in the cervical segment. The webs can be congenital or acquired, commonly associated with Plummer-Vinson syndrome and rarely with celiac disease, dermatological disorders or graft-versus-host disease. A 54-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a history of high non-progressive dysphagia to solid food, meat impaction and weight loss over last ten months. His medical history and family history were unremarkable nor was the physical examination. Complete blood count and basic biochemical tests were normal. Antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies for celiac disease were negative. Barium swallow esophagography and upper endoscopy detected cervical esophageal webs. The treatment consisted of endoscopic balloon dilation. The patient’s dysphagia resolved shortly after dilation, and the endoscope passed easily through the esophagus showing normal esophageal, gastric and duodenal mucosa. This report is consistent with a case of esophageal webs rarely documented in males and that is not related with common causes like Plummer-Vinson syndrome. Thus, the pathogenesis and treatment of esophageal webs are evolving.