Fatal Hemorrhage in Stented Esophageal Carcinoma: Tumor Necrosis of the Aorta

We report a case of fatal hematemesis in a patient with an esophageal stent for palliation of malignant dysphagia. Post-mortem examination showed tumor thrombi in the vasa vasorum of the aorta causing aortic wall necrosis and perforation. Massive delayed hemorrhage is reported as a complication of metallic esophageal endoprostheses but in the majority of cases there have been no post-mortem examinations. In this case the post-mortem examination demonstrated that the cause of death was not stent-related. We feel that this case report adds important information to the current literature regarding the delayed complications seen in patients with esophageal carcinoma who have been palliated with metallic stents.