Which syndrome is associated with dysphagia, glossitis, and iron deficiency anemia?

Plummer-Vinson syndrome, also known as Paterson-Brown-Kelly syndrome, is a condition characterized by a triad of symptoms: dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), and iron deficiency anemia. This syndrome often occurs in middle-aged women and is associated with the development of esophageal webs, which can lead to mechanical obstruction and contribute to dysphagia. The underlying iron deficiency anemia can arise due to poor nutritional intake, which is frequently observed in individuals with glossitis and can be exacerbated by the difficulty in swallowing solid foods.

The presence of glossitis is notable because it indicates a nutritional deficiency that is frequently linked with iron deficiency, contributing to the symptoms experienced by patients. As the esophageal webs form, they can further complicate swallowing and lead to more severe feeding difficulties. Therefore, it is the combination of these clinical features that makes Plummer-Vinson syndrome distinctive and allows for its identification.

In contrast, chronic gastritis typically presents with symptoms related to inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which does not specifically include glossitis or the esophageal complications seen in Plummer-Vinson syndrome. Aplastic anemia and achalasia have differing clinical presentations; aplastic anemia primarily involves bone marrow failure leading