Esophageal webs and rings

Oesophageal webs and esophageal rings are easily confused with esophageal muscle contraction and stenosis. Strictly speaking, the esophageal web is a thin (2 to 3 mm) and brittle web-like diaphragm composed of only the mucosa and submucosa in the lumen of the esophagus. The esophageal ring usually refers to a thick and tough narrow ring composed of the esophageal mucosa and muscle layers. The X-ray performance of the two is difficult to distinguish, so esophageal webs and rings should be identified based on symptoms, signs, X-ray signs, esophageal manometry, and endoscopic biopsy.