The clinical significance of cervical esophageal and hypopharyngeal webs.

One thousand consecutive cinefluorographic examinations of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus were reviewed to determine the incidence of webs in a population routinely referred for upper gastrointestinal examination. The age, sex, and incidence of iron deficiency anemia in patients with webs were compared with those of the controls, and dysphagia and associated diseases were noted. 5.5% of the patients had one or more webs; these patients had a similar sex distribution to the control group but were generally older. Both groups had the same incidence of iron deficiency anemia. None of the patients with webs met the criteria for Plummer-Vinson syndrome. The authors believe that most cervical esophageal and hypopharyngeal webs are of no clinical significance.