Acute Esophageal Necrosis (AEN) may present with a number of clinical and laboratory findings. These findings may be overshadowed by concurrent illnesses that may have precipitated the ischemic event.
Synonyms: "black esophagus", acute necrotizing esophagitis
Clinical findings:
(1) upper gastrointestinal bleeding with hematemesis and/or melena
(2) dysphagia
(3) epigastric and/or abdominal pain
(4) nausea and/or vomiting
(5) low-grade fever
(6) lightheadedness or syncope
Laboratory findings:
(1) anemia
(2) leukocytosis
Findings on esophagoscopy:
(1) diffuse, circumferential, black-colored mucosa that ends abruptly at the gastroesophageal junction
(2) variable stricture with stenosis
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Specialty: Gastroenterology, Surgery, general, Cardiology
