Esophageal fistulas associated with mycobacterial infection in patients at risk for AIDS.

Although opportunistic infections of the esophagus occur commonly in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), inflammation is generally limited to the mucosal surface. During a 7-month interval, six men at risk for AIDS underwent barium esophagography because of persistent symptoms of esophageal disease. In each case, transmural inflammation of the esophagus was found (esophagomediastinal communication in three cases and esophagobronchial fistulas in three cases). Two patients had an esophagoesophageal fistula, an inflammatory lesion that has not, to the authors' knowledge, been previously described with mycobacterial infection. Mycobacterial infection was documented by means of culture findings in all six patients (Mycobacterium tuberculosis in five, M avium in one). In three cases mycobacteria were either seen in or cultured from esophageal biopsy specimens. The finding of deep esophageal ulceration, intramural dissection, or fistula formation in a patient with AIDS should suggest the diagnosis of esophageal tuberculosis.