A rare case of circumferential intramural dissection of the thoracic esophagus.

Esophageal intramural dissection is a rare disease, and whole thoracic esophageal intramural dissection is extremely rare. We report a case of circumferential intramural dissection of the thoracic esophagus, which occurred between the submucosal layer and the muscularis propria layer, with inflammation in the false lumen mimicking esophageal mediastinal fistula in the endoscopic view. The diagnosis was finally confirmed at operation and cured by thoracic esophagectomy.