title: A base of skull fracture presenting as haematemesis.
abstract: In a patient presenting with haematemesis, known to have oesophageal varices, the bleeding would be expected to be from those varices. This case demonstrates an unusual presentation of a base of skull fracture; blood from a fracture of the temporal bone had run from the middle ear through the eustachian tube to the pharynx. It demonstrates the need to remain vigilant even when the diagnosis appears to be obvious.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Cruise
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Solomons
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications; D005064:Eustachian Tube; D005260:Female; D006396:Hematemesis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020205:Skull Fracture, Basilar / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology