Spontaneous Intramural Esophageal Hematoma Secondary to Thrombolysis in the Setting of Pulmonary Embolism

Abstract

Intramural hematoma of the esophagus (IHE) represents a rare condition on the spectrum of esophageal injuries. The most common symptoms are hematemesis, epigastric pain or retrosternal chest pains, odynophagia, and dysphagia. Early recognition of IHE is important as it may mimic other diseases such as myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, Mallory–Weiss tears, Boerhaave’s syndrome, ruptured aortic aneurysms, and aortic dissection. Computed tomography is the preferred investigation method, and treatment is usually conservative. We herein present 2 cases of IHE associated with catheter-directed thrombolysis in the setting of pulmonary embolism.