[Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus]

Two rare (as they were cervical) cases of so-called spontaneous rupture of the esophagus are reported, and similar cases treated in the C.H.U. Rennes, over the last 8 years reviewed. The historical background and pathogenic mechanism of this affection are recalled, and its difficult diagnosis emphasized, the latter being the result of the almost total lack of precise symptoms, which associate thoracic, abdominal, and cervical features to varying degrees. Therapy is difficult and the prognosis poor.