title: Benign esophagorespiratory fistulas in adults.
abstract: Four benign esophagorespiratory fistulas, three secondary to granulomatous disease and one presumed to be congenital, have been diagnosed in adults at the authors' institution in the past year. The patients had symptoms of chronic or recurrent pulmonary infections, and two experienced coughing after swallowing. Chest radiographs demonstrated refractory consolidation, with or without cavitation and frequently accompanied by an air-distended esophagus. Barium studies were diagnostic. All patients responded well to antibiotic and surgical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landay
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kilman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estrera
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schreiber
mesh_terms: D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*