Esophageal web

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]

Synonyms and keywords: Oesophageal web

Overview

Esophageal webs are mucosal folds that partially obstructs the esophageal lumen. The exact pathogenesis of esophageal webs is not known but it is thought to be due to either esophageal inflammation, congenital anomaly, or iron deficiency. They can be classified into type A, B, and C according to their site and extent; type B being the most common. The most common causes are Plummer-Vinson syndrome, celiac sprue and Zenker’s diverticulum. Esophageal webs most commonly present with dysphagia that has a slow onset and is rarely complicated with weight loss. Esophageal webs must be differentiated from other causes of dysphagia such esophageal strictures and achalasia. In barium esophagogram, esophageal webs appear as a uniform narrowing of the esophagus and on endoscopy, esophageal webs appear as a smooth narrowing of the esophagus that is not present in the whole circumference of the lumen. Esophageal dilation is the cornerstone of treatment and it is effective in relieving the symptoms but with high recurrence rate.

Historical perspective

  • In 1944, esophageal webs were first described by Templeton and it was thought to be a congenital disease because most of the patients were children.[1]
  • In 1953, a series of case reports of patients having dysphagia and radiological signs denoting esophageal narrowing made the diagnosis of esophageal rings not confined to the pediatric population.
  • In 1968, histological examination of specimens from the esophageal rings proved that none of them had muscle involvement.[2]

Classification

Esophageal webs can be classified according to their site and extent in three categories[3][4][5]

Type A

  • Type A esophageal rings describe webs that involve the muscle layer of the esophageal wall and lies in close proximity to the squamo-columnar junction.
  • It is less common than type B esophageal webs.

Type B

  • Type B esophageal rings describe the webs that involve only the mucosa and submucosa of the esophagus.
  • It is often named “Schatzki ring”.
  • It is located exactly at the squamo-columnar junction.

Type C

  • Type C esophageal rings refer to wall invaginations due to pressure from the diaphragm.
  • It is rare with no clinical significance.

Pathophysiology

Pathogenesis

There are multiple theories explaining the origin of esophageal webs.

Inflammation

Congenital theory

  • Esophageal webs are thought to be due to failure of the esophagus to recanalize.
  • Specimens showed that the esophageal webs contained respiratory epithelium supporting this theory.[6]
  • The webs mostly remain asymptomatic for long times and that is why it is not correlated with being congenital.

Iron deficiency

Gross picture

  • Esophageal webs appear as an eccentric narrowing of the esophageal lumen (while rings cause circumferential narrowing).[1]

Microscopic picture

Causes

More common causes

Less common causes

Differentiating esophageal webs from other diseases

Esophageal webs must be differentiated from other causes of dysphagia such as achalasia and esophageal carcinoma.

Disease Signs and Symptoms Barium esophagogram Endoscopy Other imaging and laboratory findings Gold Standard
Onset Dysphagia Weight loss Heartburn Other findings Mental status
Solids Liquids Type
Plummer-Vinson syndrome
  • Gradual
+ - Non progressive +/- - Normal
Barium esophagogram (Source: Case courtesy of Dr Hani Salam, <a href="https://radiopaedia.org/">Radiopaedia.org</a>. From the case <a href="https://radiopaedia.org/cases/14029">rID: 14029</a>)
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Triad of

Esophageal stricture
  • Gradual
  • Sudden onset
+ - Progressive +/- +/- Normal
  • Sacculations
  • Fixed transverse folds
  • Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticula   
Case courtesy of Dr Ahmed Abd Rabou, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 23008
{{#ev:youtube|vax5E-jMnQ}}
Diffuse esophageal spasm
  • Sudden
+ + Non progressive + + Normal
  • Nonperistaltic anonpropulsiveive contractions
  • Corkscrew or rosary bead esophagus
Barium swallow appearance o:ByES
Source:By Nevit Dilmen [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
  • Inconclusive
{{#ev:youtube|2ipA34iMA3c}}
Achalasia
  • Gradual
+ + Non progressive +/- - Normal
  • "Bird's beak" or "rat tail" appearance
  • Dilated esophageal body
  • Air fluid level (absent peristalsis)
  • Absence of an intragastric air bubble
Case courtesy of Dr Mario Umana, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 38071
{{#ev:youtube|ydLcskQzEjM}}
  • Residual pressure of LES > 10 mmHg
  • Incomplete relaxation of the LES
  • Increased resting tone of LES
  • Aperistalsis
Systemic sclerosis
  • Gradual
+ + Progressive +/- + Normal
  • Dysmotility
  • Peptic stricture (advanced cases)
Positive serology for
Zenker's diverticulum
  • Gradual
+ - +/- - Normal
Radiopaedia.org">"Zenker diverticulum | Radiology Case | Radiopaedia.org".</ref>
  • Exclude the presence of SCC
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  • CT & MRI shows out-pouching over the posterior esophagus in the Killian's triangle
Esophageal carcinoma
  • Gradual
+ + Progressive + +/- Normal
Case courtesy of Dr Bruno Di Muzio, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 4232f
{{#ev:youtube|5ucSlgqGAno}}
  • CT and PET scan is an optional test for staging of the disease
Stroke

(Cerebral hemorrhage)

  • Sudden
+ + Progressive + +/- Impaired
Motor disorders

(Myasthenia gravis)

  • Gradual
+ + Progressive +/- Normal
  • Stasis in pharynx and pooling in pharyngeal recesses
  • Anti–acetylcholine receptor antibody test
GERD
  • Gradual
  • Sudden onset
+ - Progressive +/- + Normal
Esophageal web
  • Gradual
+ +/- Progressive - +/- Normal
  • Smooth membrane not encircling the whole lumen

Epidemiology

Prevalence

  • Webs are diagnosed in 5-15% of patients doing barium esophagogram for diagnosing the cause of dysphagia.
  • Congenital esophageal webs are estimated to be 1 in 25,000 to 1 in 50,000 live births.

Race

  • Esophageal webs affects the whites more than other population.

Sex

Age

  • Esophageal has no predilection for an age group, however, it is usually not symptomatic until after the age of 40.

Screening

According to USPSTF, there are no screening measures recommended for esophageal webs.

Natural history, complications and prognosis

Natural history

  • The disease can start at any age but symptoms usually start in the fifth decade of life.
  • The dysphagia is usually to solids at the beginning then it progresses to both solids and liquids.
  • If left untreated, the webs may progress causing esophageal strictures and esophageal carcinoma.

Complications

Prognosis

History and symptoms

History

  • Patients are usually older than 40 years because it can be asymptomatic for a long time.[3]
  • The patient may give a history of the cause such as iron deficiency anemia, GERD, or autoimmune disease.
  • There may be a history of excessive food chewing to facilitate swallowing.

Symptoms

Physical examination

Esophageal webs do not have significant physical exam findings, however, it might show the signs of the cause such as:

Lab findings

Radiological tests

Barium esophagogram

Other diagnostic tests

Endoscopy

  • Endoscopy is less sensitive in detecting webs than barium esophagram.
  • Esophageal webs appear as a smooth membrane that is not encircling the whole lumen.[20]
  • It allows obtaining a biopsy from the lesion in addition to excluding other causes of dysphagia.
  • Esophageal webs can go unnoticed during the esophagram as it is only a mucous membrane fold with no muscle support.[21]

Treatment

Medical therapy

  • Patients should be educated to change their diet and food habits, especially in the cases when esophageal webs are secondary to GERD.
  • H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors can be used for managing the symptoms of GERD and the prevention of progression to webs.[3]
  • Proper management of acid reflux after esophageal dilation is associated with decreased recurrence of symptoms.[22]

Surgical therapy

  • Esophageal dilation is the cornerstone of treating esophageal webs especially in cases refractory to medical treatment.
  • In cases of eosinophilic esophagitis, dilation should be gradual as sudden forced dilation is associated with muscle tears.
  • In cases of non-eosinophilic esophagitis, dilation using a single dilator is more effective than graded dilation.[23]
  • Esophageal dilation is associated with improved dysphagia.
  • Esophageal dilation is associated with symptom recurrence in about 89% at five years and often requires redoing of the procedure.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Okamura H, Tsutsumi S, Inaki S, Mori T (1988). "Esophageal web in Plummer-Vinson syndrome". Laryngoscope. 98 (9): 994–8. doi:10.1288/00005537-198809000-00014. PMID 3412097.
  2. HARDY JD, CONN JH (1962). "Diseases of the esophagus: an analysis of 308 consecutive cases". Ann. Surg. 155: 971–90. PMC 1466157. PMID 13904659.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Smith MS (2010). "Diagnosis and management of esophageal rings and webs". Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 6 (11): 701–4. PMC 3033540. PMID 21437018.
  4. Mann NS, Leung JW (2005). "Pathogenesis of esophageal rings in eosinophilic esophagitis". Med. Hypotheses. 64 (3): 520–3. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2004.08.021. PMID 15617859.
  5. Pleet JL, Taboada S, Rishi A, Milman PJ, Trindade AJ (2017). "Rings in the esophagus are not always eosinophilic esophagitis: Case series of ring forming lymphocytic esophagitis and review of the literature". Endosc Int Open. 5 (6): E484–E488. doi:10.1055/s-0043-106579. PMC 5451283. PMID 28573181.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Sinha SK, Nain CK, Udawat HP, Prasad KK, Das R, Nagi B, Singh K (2008). "Cervical esophageal web and celiac disease". J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 23 (7 Pt 1): 1149–52. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05452.x. PMID 18554241.
  7. DeVault KR (1996). "Lower esophageal (Schatzki's) ring: pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy". Dig Dis. 14 (5): 323–9. PMID 8902418.
  8. 8.0 8.1 McDonald GB, Sullivan KM, Schuffler MD, Shulman HM, Thomas ED (1981). "Esophageal abnormalities in chronic graft-versus-host disease in humans". Gastroenterology. 80 (5 pt 1): 914–21. PMID 7009315.
  9. Low DE, Hill LD (1988). "Cervical esophageal web associated with Zenker's diverticulum". Am. J. Surg. 156 (1): 34–7. PMID 3134826.
  10. Weinman D, Stewart MI, Woodley DT, Garcia G (1991). "Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) and esophageal webs: a new association". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 86 (10): 1518–22. PMID 1928049.
  11. Dutta U, Khaliq A, Noor MT, Kochhar R, Singh K (2009). "Recurrent Multiple Cervical Esophageal Webs: An Unusual Presentation of Celiac Disease". Gastroenterology Res. 2 (6): 356–357. doi:10.4021/gr2009.12.1325. PMC 5139698. PMID 27990207.
  12. Gordon AR, Levine MS, Redfern RO, Rubesin SE, Laufer I (2001). "Cervical esophageal webs: association with gastroesophageal reflux". Abdom Imaging. 26 (6): 574–7. PMID 11911167.
  13. Jerome-Zapadka KM, Clarke MR, Sekas G (1994). "Recurrent upper esophageal webs in association with heterotopic gastric mucosa: case report and literature review". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 89 (3): 421–4. PMID 8122657.
  14. Andersson GB, Schultz AB, Ortengren R (1986). "Trunk muscle forces during desk work". Ergonomics. 29 (9): 1113–27. doi:10.1080/00140138608967227. PMID 3769895.
  15. Goel A, Bakshi SS, Soni N, Chhavi N (2017). "Iron deficiency anemia and Plummer-Vinson syndrome: current insights". J Blood Med. 8: 175–184. doi:10.2147/JBM.S127801. PMC 5655134. PMID 29089792.
  16. Tahara T, Shibata T, Okubo M, Yoshioka D, Ishizuka T, Sumi K, Kawamura T, Nagasaka M, Nakagawa Y, Nakamura M, Arisawa T, Ohmiya N, Hirata I (2014). "A case of plummer-vinson syndrome showing rapid improvement of Dysphagia and esophageal web after two weeks of iron therapy". Case Rep Gastroenterol. 8 (2): 211–5. doi:10.1159/000364820. PMC 4086037. PMID 25028578.
  17. Lawrence IE (1968). "Regional influences on development of the single comb primordium". J. Exp. Zool. 167 (3): 263–73. doi:10.1002/jez.1401670302. PMID 5655134.
  18. Novacek G (2006). "Plummer-Vinson syndrome". Orphanet J Rare Dis. 1: 36. doi:10.1186/1750-1172-1-36. PMC 1586011. PMID 16978405.
  19. Li QQ, Liu MZ, Hu YH, Liu H, Huang Y, Cui NJ (2006). "[Clinical value of barium swallow in observing esophageal tumor regression during radiotherapy]". Ai Zheng (in Chinese). 25 (6): 723–7. PMID 16764768.
  20. Roy GT, Cohen RC, Williams SJ (1996). "Endoscopic laser division of an esophageal web in a child". J. Pediatr. Surg. 31 (3): 439–40. PMID 8708922.
  21. Chao HC, Chen SY, Kong MS (2008). "Successful treatment of congenital esophageal web by endoscopic electrocauterization and balloon dilatation". J. Pediatr. Surg. 43 (1): e13–5. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2007.08.059. PMID 18206438.
  22. Kitahara S, Ohmae Y, Ogura M, Matumura Y (1999). "The operation of upper esophageal web in Plummer-Vinson syndrome: a case report". Auris Nasus Larynx. 26 (4): 495–500. PMID 10530747.
  23. Longstreth GF, Sitzer ME (1997). "Multiple esophageal webs: treatment and follow-up of seven patients". J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 24 (4): 199–202. PMID 9252840.