Dissecting haematoma of the oesophagus masquerading as acute myocardial infarction

Clinical record

Computed tomography of the thorax showed bilateral pleural effusions (PE) and diffuse thickening of the oesophagus (O).

An 84-year-old woman presented to the emergency department following the sudden onset of retrosternal chest pain with associated nausea and sweating. The pain was exacerbated by swallowing, but this symptom was not felt to be significant at the time. She had no past history of ischaemic heart disease or diabetes and did not smoke, but did have a weak family history of heart disease, and a personal history of mild hypercholesterolaemia and refractory hypertension despite aggressive medical management (baseline systolic blood pressure consistently 150–220 mmHg, according to previous medical records). An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed a left bundle branch block, with no previous ECG available for comparison. Acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed. However, coronary angiography showed no abnormalities, and serial measurements of serum troponin and creatine kinase levels failed to confirm an infarction.

The next morning, the patient developed profound dysphagia and had an episode of haematemesis. Full blood examination showed normocytic anaemia (haemoglobin concentration, 70 g/L; reference range [RR], 115–165 g/L), with mean cell volume of 91 fL (RR, 78–99 fL), neutrophilia (12.7 × 109 cells/L [RR, 2.0–8.0 × 109 cells/L]), and platelet count in the RR (172 × 109 cells/L [RR, 150–450 × 109 cells/L]). She developed a cough, and a chest x-ray showed left lower lobe consolidation. Intravenous ceftriaxone therapy was begun to treat this.

Computed tomography was arranged to investigate the oesophageal symptoms. This showed a diffusely thickened oesophagus from the thoracic inlet to the gastro-oesophageal junction, bilateral pleural effusions, and left lower lobe collapse and consolidation (Figure). Endoscopy showed blackened oesophageal mucosa with extensive mucosal bleeding. The procedure was abandoned because of these findings, and the patient was intubated and transferred to our tertiary referral centre for ongoing care.

On arrival, chest x-ray showed progression of the pulmonary effusion, obscuring the entire left lung field. At bronchoscopy, a substantial volume of old clot was evacuated from the left bronchial tree. Repeat endoscopy again showed an extensive mucosal lesion. A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube was placed, and a provisional diagnosis of malignancy was made (biopsies subsequently showing benign tissue only). The patient remained haemodynamically stable throughout, and was extubated 2 days later. She remained asymptomatic and was able to eat a full diet 6 days later. A final diagnosis was made of dissecting haematoma of the oesophagus. The patient remained in excellent health at follow-up a month later, at which time the PEG tube was removed without incident.

Dissecting haematoma of the oesophagus is a rare, relatively benign condition that mimics much more common and serious illnesses.1 The onset of sudden severe retrosternal chest pain in an elderly person, who often has other cardiovascular risk factors, may lead to an erroneous diagnosis of cardiac pain. In some cases, subsequent thrombolytic treatment has led to fatalities. In others, the appearance of intramural thrombus on radiological or endoscopic views has been mistaken for advanced oesophageal malignancy or rupture.2,3

Because of the rarity of dissecting haematoma of the oesophagus, diagnosis depends on an accurate history and a high index of suspicion. Those affected are usually women (relative risk, 1.8 — the inverse to the male bias in cardiovascular and malignant oesophageal disease),3 elderly (median age, 63 years),3 and not uncommonly taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents. Patients present with a variable combination of chest pain (usually sudden in onset and of short duration), haematemesis (mainly small volume and occurring after the pain), and dysphagia and/or odynophagia. In one meta-analysis, 99% of patients had at least one of these symptoms, and 32% had all three.3 In particular, the presence of dysphagia or odynophagia in a patient otherwise thought to have angina or myocardial infarction should prompt oesophageal imaging before administration of fibrinolytic agents. A simple test is to ask the patient to take a sip of water as part of the examination. If this exacerbates symptoms or unmasks new ones, a more specific focus on the possibility of oesophageal abnormality is warranted.

Dissecting haematoma of the oesophagus has a typical appearance on imaging.4,5 Barium swallow shows a long, smooth tubular filling defect in the lumen of the oesophagus, sometimes with the dissection space filled with a stripe of contrast (the “double-barrelled oesophagus”). As the dissection most commonly occurs along the posterior wall, the lateral view is most useful. Computed tomography demonstrates an obliterated lumen with thickening of the wall. This extends over a long length of the oesophagus, and can mimic oesophageal rupture or extensive malignancy. The haematoma is large, fluctuant, and blue or purplish when viewed at endoscopy. Delayed endoscopy shows a long ulcer, where the overlying mucosa has sloughed, followed by rapid regeneration and an ultimately normal appearance.3

For a condition with such dramatic presentation, the natural history is refreshingly benign. The best intervention is non-intervention: the haematoma almost always resolves, and full oesophageal function is restored. Intravenous hydration, supplemented by parenteral or enteral nutrition in appropriate cases, is usually all that is needed. Anti-ulcer medications have no proven benefit.3 Surgery is indicated if there is uncontrolled arterial bleeding, or if the partial rupture has been converted to a full thickness tear through endoscopy.3 A further indication for surgery is a focus of infection within the false lumen, preventing healing. In two such cases, endoscopic division of the overlying mucosal flap resulted in complete resolution of fever, odynophagia and neutrophilia.1,6 Unfortunately, aggressive intervention has led to fatalities.3