iron pill-induced hypopharyngeal mucosal injury

Iron pill-induced mucosal injury of the airways with massive necrosis and stricture of the lower airways is known to occur, but symptomatic injury of the hypopharyngeal mucosa secondary to therapeutic oral iron ingestion has not been described.

The patients present with dysphagia when swallowing pills, but not when eating or drinking. Imaging studies and clinical examination reveal an ulcerated and protuberant hypopharyngeal mass.

Histology show mucosal ulceration with deposits of extracellular crystalline iron particles. The histologic changes are identical to those seen in patients with "iron pill" gastritis.

References

 Iron pill-induced tumefactive mucosal injury of the hypopharynx. Cimino-Mathews A, Broman JH, Westra WH, Illei PB. Am J Surg Pathol. 2010 Nov;34(11):1720-2. PMID: 20975344