Submucosal Oesophageal Haematoma Mimicking Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Case Report

Intramural oesophageal haematoma, also known as oesophageal apoplexy, is a rare condition characterised by a collection of blood within the submucosal layers of the oesophagus. Submucosal haematoma is a rare clinical entity that can occur spontaneously or secondary to trauma, toxin, medical intervention, or coagulopathy. Oesophageal haematoma develops due to multiple etiological factors, many of which were found to be due to impaired coagulation after myocardial infarction, thrombolytic treatment, vomiting, spontaneous in origin, or idiopathic. Oesophageal haematoma is classified as an acute oesophageal injury. It must be differentiated from other causes of acute chest pain, including myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, a Mallory-Weiss tear, and Boerhaave's syndrome. CT and oesophagogastroscopy are the main modalities used to establish diagnosis. Following a case of spontaneous submucosal haematoma presenting with chest pain, it can be successfully managed conservatively. Prognosis is typically excellent when treated conservatively. We document the case of an 81-year-old male who presented with acute chest pain and was successfully treated with conservative management. The diagnosis turned out to be oesophageal submucosal haematoma. Along with the case report, we conducted a comprehensive review of case studies related to submucosal haematoma in the United Kingdom.