Spontaneous esophageal perforation

What it means

The occurrence of the full-thickness tear (perforation) of the wall of the esophagus.

Esophageal perforation can lead to retained gastric contents, saliva, bile, and other substances entering the mediastinum, resulting in mediastinitis, which in turn may lead to sepsis.

Rare diseases that can present with this2

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Boerhaave syndrome · Spontaneous esophageal rupture