Imaging management of spontaneous giant esophageal intramural hematoma

A woman, aged 84 years, presented to our emergency department with posteriorly radiating chest pain that began following dinner. She reported no change in bowel habits, hematochezia, or melena. She had previous peptic ulcer disease and a long-standing history of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Her medications included acetylsalicylic acid and rabeprazole. Electrocardiogram and troponin analyses were negative for ischemic heart disease. The emergency physician suspected an aortic dissection, and computed tomography (CT) chest and abdomen scans were performed with and without IV and oral contrast. The aorta was normal and the noncontrast images demonstrated a hyperdense mass (not shown) that did not enhance consistent with a large intramural hematoma extending from the upper esophagus (level of T2 vertebral body) to the fundus of the stomach (Figures 1A and B).