Undiagnosed aortoesophageal fistula causing intramural hematoma of the esophagus

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare, but life-threatening cause of intramural hematoma of the esophagus (IHE). Typical clinical presentation of AEF includes midthoracic pain and sentinel hemorrhage followed by massive, often fatal, hematemesis, with the period between sentinel hemorrhage and massive hematemesis generally varying from hours to days. This is a case of a 61-year-old male who presented with chest pain after development of an aortoesophageal fistula and associated intramural hematoma of the esophagus. The fistula and associated hematoma were initially mischaracterized on imaging, and went undiagnosed for approximately 2 weeks before being iatrogenically disrupted during endoscopy. Though this case was successfully treated, aortoesophageal fistulas are associated with a high mortality, and aortoesophageal fistula/intramural hematoma of the esophagus should always be considered in the differential of an esophageal mass.