Introduction:

Erosive esophagitis secondary to radiotherapy is an unusual complication in the oncological treatment of thoracic tumors. This pathological entity is associated with multiple complications, which is a clinical challenge for health workers unfamiliar with the clinical manifestations.

Clinical case:

A 64-year-old woman with a 3-day clinical picture of chest pain radiating to the epigastrium with 10/10 intensity. On physical examination, she was tachycardic, hypotensive, and with intense pain in the upper hemiabdomen region; she had no signs of peritoneal irritation on deep palpation. Paraclinical tests showed no signs of local or disseminated infection, but endoscopy of the digestive tract reported post-radiation esophagitis.

Discussion:

Erosive esophagitis after radiotherapy occurs in less than 1 % of cases, and clinical manifestations such as dysphagia, odynophagia, and abdominal pain are common. Initial symptomatic management is preserved, with supportive measures such as intravenous hydration and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). In case of intolerance to the oral route, therapy with nutritional support is indicated via nasogastric tube or gastrostomy in the most severe cases.

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