An adult case of congenital esophagobronchial fistula complicated with pyothorax

A 64-year-old woman with congenital esophagobronchial fistula complicated with pyothorax is reported. She was admitted to our hospital because of high fever and cough. Chest X-ray showed a cavity with niveau in the right lower lobe. The next day she noticed right chest pain. Chest X-ray showed right pleural effusion. The diagnosis of left esophagobronchial fistula with pyothorax was confirmed by esophagography, esophagoscopy, chest X-ray and chest CT. After treatment of the pyothorax with antibiotics and drainage, fistulectomy and right lower lobectomy were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. Histologically, the fistula had esophageal epithelium with a submucosal muscle layer and demonstrated a transitional zone between squamous epithelium and bronchial epithelium.