title: Delayed diagnosis of purulent pericarditis caused by esophagopericardial fistula by computed tomography scan and echocardiography.
abstract: We report a case of esophagopericardial fistula with subsequent purulent pericarditis that was diagnosed with computed tomography and echocardiography. In a patient with non-specific chest pain and vague past history, serial echocardiography demonstrated rapid aggravation of pyopneumopericardium and chest CT scan showed a foreign body that caused the fistula in the esophageal wall. Removal of a piece of fish bone, closure of the fistula, and creation of a pericardial window for continuous drainage were performed through a low lateral thoracotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, South Korea. jobchoi@wonnms.wonkwang.ac.kr
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D004947:Esophagus; D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D010496:Pericardium; D013492:Suppuration; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed