title: The diagnosis of unsuspected esophageal perforation by computed tomography.
abstract: The successful management of esophageal perforation requires prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention. The hazards of delayed recognition of esophageal perforation have been recently emphasized. A case of unsuspected esophageal perforation detected by computerized tomography of the chest (CT) is described and illustrated. CT is an effective technique for displaying mediastinal and complex pleural-parenchymal abnormalities and often provides information which is of diagnostic value.
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed