Computed tomography of mediastinal hematoma secondary to unusual esophageal laceration: a Boerhaave variant.

The Boerhaave syndrome is classically considered a panmural perforation of the distal esophagus secondary to forced vomiting or retching. A variant of the syndrome is described in which only the outer longitudinal muscle layer of the esophagus was torn, and in this case most of the usual radiological findings were absent. The clinical, radiological, and surgical findings are discussed.