Black esophagus

Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2023 Nov;115(11):646-647. doi: 10.17235/reed.2022.9217/2022.

Abstract

A 76-year-old man with multiple cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, DM2, LD, smoker) and severe peripheral arterial disease (iliofemoral bypass, supracondylar amputation) came to the emergency with coffee ground emesis and mild anemia. Urgent gastroscopy showed diffuse circumferential black mucosa covered by fibrin affecting the middle and distal esophageal third. Acute esophageal necrosis is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that should be suspected in patients with cardiovascular risk factors with an image of a black esophagus that is abruptly interrupted at the EGJ.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Esophageal Diseases* / complications
  • Esophageal Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Esophageal Diseases* / surgery
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Hematemesis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Necrosis / complications