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Esophageal webs are thin, diaphragm-like membranes of squamous mucosa, sometimes multiple, typically in the mid or upper esophagus
May be congenital; also occur with eosinophilic esophagitis, graft-versus-host disease, pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa, pemphigus vulgaris
Esophageal web plus iron deficiency anemia is known as Plummer-Vinson syndrome
Esophageal rings are smooth, circumferential, thin (< 4 mm) mucosal structures in the distal esophagus at the squamocolumnar junction
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Most webs and rings are over 20 mm in diameter and are asymptomatic
Solid-food dysphagia, characteristically intermittent and not progressive, often occurs with rings < 13 mm in diameter
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Passage of bougie or endoscopic balloon dilators to disrupt the web or ring
Endoscopic electrosurgical incision: a minimum lumen diameter of 15–18 mm achieves symptom remission in most patients
A single dilation may suffice, but repeat dilations are often necessary
Long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy for patients who have heartburn or who require repeated dilation