title: Esophagopericardial fistula as a rare complication after total gastrectomy for cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophagopericardial fistula is a rare but life-threatening complication of benign, malignant or traumatic esophageal disease. It is most commonly associated with benign etiology and carries a high mortality rate which increases with delay in diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of an esophagopericardial fistula as a rare complication in a 53-year-old male patient, 7 months after total gastrectomy for an adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis of esophagopericardial fistula is poor, especially when it is associated with malignancy.
authors: Second Department of Surgery, Areteion University Hospital, Athens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece. drmarinis@gmail.com
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Dafnios
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Anastasopoulos
authors: Athanasios
authors: A
authors: Marinis
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Polydorou
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Gkiokas
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Fragulidis
authors: Panayiotis
authors: P
authors: Athanasopoulos
authors: Theodosios
authors: T
authors: Theodosopoulos
mesh_terms: D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000209:etiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*