title: Conservative management for an esophageal perforation in a patient presented with delayed diagnosis: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal perforation is a serious condition with a high mortality rate. Successful therapy depends on the size of the rupture; the time elapsed between rupture and diagnosis, and the underlying health of the patient. Common causes of esophageal perforation include medical instrumentation, foreign-body ingestion, and trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case of esophageal perforation due to fish bone ingestion in a 67-year-old male is described here, with a review of the pertinent literature. The patient presented with chest pain, fever and right-sided pleural effusion. Initial evaluation was nondiagnostic. The water-soluble contrast swallow test showed no evidence of leakage. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a pneumomediastinum, and right-sided hydropneumothorax.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient was successfully treated using conservative measures.
authors: 4th Surgical Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, George Papanikolaou Str, Thessaloniki, 57010, Greece. ctsalis@yahoo.gr
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Tsalis
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Blouhos
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Kapetanos
authors: Theodore
authors: T
authors: Kontakiotis
authors: Charalampos
authors: C
authors: Lazaridis