Spontaneous intramural dissection of the oesophagus

Spontaneous intramural dissection or intramural haematoma of the oesophagus is an unusual condition and has been recognised as a separate clinical entity. The commonest presenting symptoms are chest pain, dysphagia and haematemesis usually affecting women in their sixties and seventies. Conservative management is usually thought to be adequate. We present a case of spontaneous intramural dissection in an elderly male who did not respond to conservative management and died.