Esophageal laceration with intramural dissection mimics esophageal perforation

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2008 Oct;7(5):864-5. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2008.181560. Epub 2008 Jul 18.

Abstract

Esophageal laceration with intramural dissection is a rare type of injury but without perforation. It is difficult to differentiate from esophageal perforation at presentation time. We report the case of a 46-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital complaining of progressive chest pain, dysphagia, and odynophagia after swallowing a fish bone three days prior to admission. Esophagoscopy revealed a deep longitudinal laceration with pus discharge in the esophagus. Computed tomography of the chest revealed low posterior mediastinal abscess formation. Surgery was performed under the impression of esophageal perforation. The definite diagnosis was esophageal laceration with intramural dissection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / etiology
  • Abscess / surgery*
  • Animals
  • Bone and Bones*
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Deglutition Disorders / surgery
  • Diagnostic Errors*
  • Esophageal Diseases / etiology
  • Esophageal Diseases / surgery*
  • Esophageal Perforation / diagnosis*
  • Esophagoscopy
  • Esophagus / injuries
  • Esophagus / pathology
  • Esophagus / surgery*
  • Fishes*
  • Foreign Bodies / complications
  • Foreign Bodies / pathology
  • Foreign Bodies / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Lacerations
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed