A rare cause of haematemesis and chest pain.

This article discusses an elderly woman presenting with haematemesis and chest pain who underwent urgent oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy. This revealed a large dissecting intramural oesophageal haematoma, initially mistaken for a varix. This is a rare cause of haematemesis and chest pain but has characteristic endoscopic findings. It is a benign condition that may be managed conservatively and both clinicians and endoscopists should be aware of its classical presentation. Misdiagnosis of the chest pain as cardiac ischaemia may have an adverse outcome if antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy is commenced. Follow up endoscopy a week later showed complete resolution of the lesion leaving a linear mucosal defect.