Poorly Differentiated Biliary Adenocarcinoma Leading to Boerhaave syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Boerhaave syndrome is a transmural disruption of the esophagus, due to an increase in esophageal pressure and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. There are cases reported secondary to bowel obstructions such as incarcerated hernias and gallstone ileus. Here, we describe an unusual autopsy case of Boerhaave syndrome, due to bowel obstruction secondary to biliary adenocarcinoma, which has never been reported in the literature. The patient was an 87-year old male presenting with severe chest and epigastric pain. Computed tomography showed fluid-filled esophagus, gastric distention and an ill-defined mass within the liver. Patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed esophageal rupture. Patient expired within 20 hours of admission. On autopsy, the decedent was found to have an esophageal perforation and an inferior hepatic mass, which morphologically and immunohistochemically was consistent with a biliary adenocarcinoma.
(© 2019 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.)