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. 2015 Nov 3;3(12):1054-5.
doi: 10.1002/ccr3.419. eCollection 2015 Dec.

Spooning of the nails and webbing of the esophagus: koilonychia and Plummer-Vinson Syndrome

Ankit Mangla  1 , Nikki Agarwal  2 , Jie Yu  1 , Margaret Telfer  3
Affiliations

Spooning of the nails and webbing of the esophagus: koilonychia and Plummer-Vinson Syndrome

Ankit Mangla et al. Clin Case Rep. .

Abstract

Chronic iron deficiency can be associated with nail deformities like Koilonychia and Platynychia. It can also be associated with esophageal webs (Plummer-Vinson syndrome or Patterson-Brown-Kelly syndrome) causing dysphagia in the patient. Though the pathogenesis of this association remains anecdotal and presence of these physical findings should prompt the clinician towards considering chronic iron deficiency as the cause of anemia.

Keywords: Esophageal webs; Plummer Vinson Syndrome; iron deficiency anemia; koilonychia.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Esophagogram with Barium swallow images demonstrating proximal esophageal web (Initiation to emptying.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Koilonychia and Platynychia seen in multiple nails secondary to iron deficiency.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Kumar, G. , Vaidyanathan L., and Stead L. G.. 2007. Images in emergency medicine. Koilonychia, or spoon‐shaped nails, is generally associated with iron‐deficiency anemia. Ann. Emerg. Med. 49:243, 250. - PubMed
    1. Gude, D. , Bansal D. P., and Malu A.. 2013. Revisiting Plummer Vinson Syndrome. Ann. Med. Health Sci. Res. 3:119–121. - PMC - PubMed

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