Introduction. Diseases of the gastrointestinal system, and especially
diseases of esophagus, are a rare cause of sudden unexpected death in any age
group. Black esophagus is an acute necrotizing inflammation of the mucosa of
the lower parts of esophagus, diffusely affecting its entire circumference.
This inflammation could be a source of profuse bleeding and cause sudden
unexpected death. Case Outline. A case of 76-year-old male was presented
herein. He has been treated for hypertension and diabetes for several years.
As a consequence of stroke, which happened several months prior to death, he
had been hemiplegic and immobilized. He died in hospital, suddenly and
unexpectedly. The autopsy showed the acute necrotizing esophagitis, as well
as the acute gastric and duodenal erosions of mucosa. These were the causes
of fatal blood loss. Conclusion. Acute necrotizing esophagitis should be
recognized during autopsy and related to the immediate cause of death as well
as to concomitant diseases of other organs, which either potentiate or
facilitate presentation of this disease.
Relato de caso: Esofago negro, uma rara patologia / Case report: Black esophagus, a rare pathology
