title: Diagnostic value of pleural fluid cytology in occult Boerhaave's syndrome.
abstract: When Boerhaave's syndrome presents with atypical clinical features and eludes prompt diagnosis, delays in surgical therapy increase complications and mortality. We present a patient with occult Boerhaave's syndrome who had nondiagnostic esophageal contrast studies and thoracic computed tomography. Pleural fluid cytologic analysis established the presence of esophageal rupture by detecting undigested food particles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix 85013.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drury
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Heffner
mesh_terms: D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed