title: Multiple esophageal webs: treatment and follow-up of seven patients.
abstract: We have treated seven patients with multiple esophageal webs without a predisposing disorder. The patients ranged in age from 34 to 61 years and had suffered from dysphagia for 4 to 26 years. None had skin disease, a history of ingestion of a potentially caustic substance, or evidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease by history or endoscopy. All patients responded to esophageal dilation, but dysphagia recurred in all during follow-up ranging from 6 months to 4 years, often requiring repeated dilation. Study of our patients and similar patients reported previously leads us to believe this unusual disorder is congenital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kaiser-Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Longstreth
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sitzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors