Congenital esophagobronchial fistula in the adult

The case of a 43-year-old man with congenital esophagobronchial fistula is presented. The patient had had bouts of coughing on swallowing liquids for 5 months. A barium swallow examination and bronchography showed an esophagobronchial fistula communicated between the middle third of the esophagus and right lower bronchus. An orifice of the fistula at the apex of an esophageal diverticulum was revealed by esophagoscopy. The clinical, operative, and histological features are discussed as well as the basis for a diagnosis of congenital origin.