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The esophageal membrane

Medical expert of the article

Gastroenterologist
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021

The esophageal membrane (Plummer-Vinson Syndrome or Peterson-Kelly, Sideropenic Dysphagia) is a thin membrane of the mucosa that grows across the lumen of the esophagus.

Membranes sometimes occur in patients with severe iron deficiency anemia; they develop even more rarely in patients without anemia.

Membranes usually develop in the upper esophagus, causing dysphagia when taking solid food. They are best diagnosed radiologically with a sip of barium. Resorption of the membrane occurs in parallel with the treatment of anemia, the membrane can be easily stretched during esophagoscopy.


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