A case of spontaneous intramural hematoma of the esophagus.

The authors experienced a case of spontaneous intramural hematoma of the esophagus (SIHE). This 44-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital because of chest pain accompanied by minimal hematemesis. Endoscopy revealed an elevated intraluminal bleeding bulge. Barium esophagograms showed a smooth and giant elevated intraluminal lesion. CT and MRI also revealed thickening of the esophageal wall. Fasting and intravenous hyperalimentation were prescribed on admission. The conditions improved and she became asymptomatic on the fifth day of hospitalization. Subsequent examinations by esophagography and endoscopy showed that the elevated lesion had disappeared and that the inflamed mucosal lesion had improved. The prognosis of cases of SIHE is excellent under conservative therapy, but close follow-up care is necessary.