Acute Esophageal Necrosis in a Patient With Prostate Cancer Postchemotherapy

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) describes a potentially irreversible injury to esophageal mucosa secondary to vascular hypoperfusion. An 84-year-old man was admitted for the correction of a displaced nephrostomy tube and management of acute kidney injury. During his stay, the patient developed odynophagia and acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Despite mild initial symptoms, diffuse circumferential black esophageal mucosa was visualized on endoscopy, and a diagnosis of AEN was made. This unique case highlights the association between AEN and leukopenia, vascular disease, hypercoagulability, and infection. Presentations such as this patient should prompt the physicians' consideration of this differential earlier.