Intramural hematoma of the esophagus: a rare cause of chest pain.

Intramural hematoma of the esophagus (IHE) is rare, and patients typically present with chest pain that is indistinguishable from other cardiac or thoracic emergencies. It may be associated with dysphagia and hematemesis. Diagnosis can be difficult, and there are many reports of misdiagnosis. Intramural hematoma of the esophagus is reported to commonly occur among the elderly population who have coagulopathy or are taking antiplatelet or anticoagulation agents. With the increasing use of multiple antiplatelets agents, the incidence of IHE is likely to increase. Therefore, it is very important for clinicians to be aware of this condition to make early diagnosis and avoid misdiagnosis.