Diagnosis of esophageal varices by transesophageal echocardiography: a mimicker of aortic disease.
The use of transesophageal echocardiography is well established in the emergency department diagnosis of traumatic aortic diseases. It has very high sensitivity and specificity compared with those of other tests. The physician performing transesophageal echocardiography should be aware of conditions that can mimic aortic pathologic conditions, thus leading to an incorrect diagnosis. We report a case in which the presence of previously undiagnosed esophageal varices mimicked traumatic aortic disease.
Chang
G L
GL
Department of Noninvasive Cardiology, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Lynch
M
M
Martin
R P
RP
D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed