[Severe deglutition disorders and iron deficiency; Plummer-Vinson syndrome]

At oesophagogastroscopy a web was seen in the upper oesophagus in a female of 73 years with dysphagia. Because she also had a smooth tongue, a low serum iron level and anaemia, the syndrome of Plummer-Vinson was diagnosed. After treatment with ferrous fumarate the dysphagia, the web and the anaemia disappeared and the serum iron rose. The symptomatology of this syndrome is discussed. Remarkably, the pathogenesis is not completely known. There are indications that this uncommon syndrome is a premalignant disorder.