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Review
. 2021 Aug;28(4):845-856.
doi: 10.1007/s10140-021-01918-1. Epub 2021 Mar 8.

Caustic ingestion: CT findings of esophageal injuries and thoracic complications

Giuseppe Cutaia  1   2 , Marianna Messina  1 , Sara Rubino  1 , Elisabetta Reitano  1 , Leonardo Salvaggio  1 , Ilenia Costanza  1 , Francesco Agnello  1 , Ludovico La Grutta  1 , Massimo Midiri  1 , Giuseppe Salvaggio  3 , Rosalia Gargano  4
Affiliations
Review

Caustic ingestion: CT findings of esophageal injuries and thoracic complications

Giuseppe Cutaia et al. Emerg Radiol. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Ingestion of caustic substances, whether accidental or for the purpose of suicide, can cause severe lesions of the lips, oral cavity, pharynx, upper gastrointestinal system, and upper airways. In particular, caustic agents could be responsible for severe esophageal injuries resulting in short- and long-term complications. Because of these important clinical implications, timely diagnosis and appropriate management are crucial. In the evaluation of esophageal injuries, thoraco-abdominal computed tomography (CT) is preferable to endoscopy as it avoids the risk of esophageal perforation and allows the evaluation of esophageal injuries as well as of the surrounding tissue. In this review, we report CT findings of esophageal injuries and possible related thoracic complications caused by caustic ingestion.

Keywords: Caustic ingestion; Computed tomography; Esophageal diverticulum; Esophageal perforation; Esophagopleural fistula.

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