Respiratory failure concealing an esotracheal fistula in a 27-year-old patient followed for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, at an advanced stage, having received radiochemotherapy: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: Esotracheal fistulas in adults are rare (fewer than 30 cases in the literature) and few cases have been reported in recent years. Hodgkin's disease with esotracheal fistula is extremely rare. The diagnosis can be established by esophageal and/or tracheal endoscopy. The diagnosis can also be corroborated by direct visualization of a fistulous pathway or oral contrast swallow associated with computed tomography (CT) imaging. Case Report: We present the case of a 27-year-old patient followed for Hodgkin's disease, admitted to the emergency room with respiratory failure. He did not respond to treatment by mechanical ventilation. His paraclinical investigations revealed an esotracheal fistula. Conclusion: Esotracheal or esobronchial fistula could be seen with any of the classical Hodgkin's lymphoma subtypes. It could also be a complication of either radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma which is an extremely rare event. The majority of fistulas occurred in the upper two-thirds