Plummer-Vinson or Paterson-Kelly syndrome presents as a triad of iron-deficiency anemia, dysphagia and esophageal webs. Most of the patients include white middle-aged women, in the fourth to seventh decade of life. While literature review elucidates the resolution of dysphagia in most cases with iron therapy, we discuss our case where the dysphagia was resistant to such therapy.
The patient underwent endoscopic dilatation of esophageal webs which relieved the dysphagia. These patients should be followed closely as Plummer-Vinson syndrome is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and the esophagus.
