esophageal perforation: CT findings in 10 patients.

Abstract

Purpose : To describe CT findings of esophageal perforation. Materials and Methods : Review of medical records revealed 33 patients who were admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of esophageal perforation between 1995 and 2000. Among them, 10 patients with chest CT scans whose ages ranged between 28 and 69 years (mean, 51 years) were included in this study, and two chest radiologists reviewed the CT scans. Results : The cause of esophageal perforation was trauma (n=4), infectious diseases (n=3), projectile vomiting (n=1), lung cancer (n=1), or idiopathic (n=1). Major CT findings were pulmonary consolidation (n=8), pneumomediastinum (n=6), pleural effusion (n=6), and subcutaneous emphysema (n=4). Minor CT findings were pneumothorax (n=2), esophageal wall thickening (n=2), fluid collection in the posterior mediastinum (n=2), and lung abscess (n=1). Those CT findings were not specific for esophageal perforation and indistinguishable from those of mediastinitis due to other causes. Conclusion : Esophageal perforation shows CT findings indistinguishable from those of mediastinitis, which CT findings of esophageal perforation were nonspecific, but these findings are seen, esophageal perforation included in differential diagnosis.