A 41-year-old woman was found to have had spontaneous submucosal disse
ction of the esophagus by esophagoscopy. Food ingestion was postulated
to have been an initiating factor in this instance. Conservative ther
apy was sufficient in this case. Patients who complain of sore throat
with retrosternal pain and an obstructed sensation on swallowing or mi
ld hematemesis should be examined by esophagoscopy for evidence of thi
s disorder.