The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 24, 355-358, Copyright © 1977 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Midesophageal web in adults
RW Ikard and HE Rosen
Stenotic webs in the midesophagus of adults are rare. Including the present
patient, only 6 have been described in the literature in English. Clinical
presentation is characterized by dysphagia and insidious weight loss in a
patient usually over 40 years old. The cause of the lesion is unknown.
Based on knowledge of the embryological development of the esophagus and
the absence of microscopical inflammatory changes in true webs, a
congenital rather than inflammatory basis seems likely. Treatment of
midesophageal webs can be accomplished by dilation, divulsion through an
esophagoscope, or transthoracic excision.