Esophageal perforation
Alternate Names : Perforation of the esophagus
Symptoms & Signs
The main symptom is pain at first. Patients with a perforation in the middle portion or lowermost portion of the esophagus may have difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
Diagnosis & Tests
Signs include:
Patients with a perforation in the top part of the esophagus may have neck pain or stiffness and air bubbles underneath the skin. A chest x-ray may reveal air in the soft tissues of the chest, fluid that has leaked from the esophagus into the space around the lungs, or a lung collapse. A chest CT scan may show an abscess in the chest or esophageal cancer. X-rays taken after you drink a non-harmful dye can help pinpoint the location of the perforation.
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