The Black Esophagus

Abstract

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), commonly referred to as black esophagus, is a rare clinical condition resulting from a combination of ischemic insult and thromboembolic injury to the esophagus. It is characterized by the circumferential black appearance of the esophagus. The risk factors for the development of AEN include coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, malignancy, and alcohol use disorder. The treatment is directed at correcting the underlying medical conditions, supportive measures, and gastric acid suppression.We present the case of a 60-year-old female with multiple medical comorbidities who was detected to have a black esophagus during the evaluation of anemia.

Into the dark of the black oesophagus

“…Mortality is 32-35% [2,3]. Long-term complications of AEN are not common (about 10% of patients) but when they do appear they are severe, such as oesophageal stricture, perforation, stenosis or death [4,9,13,15,17]. Differential diagnosis includes melanosis,…”

“…malignant melanoma, pseudomelanosis, acanthosis nigrans, exogenous dye ingestion, coal dust exposure, adverse drug effects, pseudomembranous oesophagitis, and infections [7,12,13,15,17]. Patients with black oesophagus require long-term upper gastrointestinal endoscopy surveillance [8].…”