Perforation of a gastric tube peptic ulcer into the thoracic aorta.

We present a case of a 52-year-old male patient who died from massive hematemesis as a result of perforation of a benign peptic ulcer into the descending thoracic aorta, 1 year after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer and gastric tube interposition. We also review the literature for mechanisms of ulceration in intrathoracic gastric grafts and for complications of such ulcers.