Two Cases of Congenital Esophago-Bronchial Fistula in Adult

Congenital esophago-bronchial fistula is a rare disease among adults. Only fifteen cases have been reported in Japan so far. Recently in our clinic we have discovered two adult cases of congenital esophago-bronchial fistula. Case 1 is a 44-year-old housewife who has complained coughing at swallowing food for 9 years. She was admitted to our hospital because of hemoptesis. Under the diagnosis of esophago-bronchial fistula the right lower pulmonary lobe was resected together with the fistula resulting in complete cure. Case 2 is a 29-year-old housewife who visted our clinic because of vomitting, abdominal pain and fever. Her history revealed intermittent coughing episodes at swallowing liquid food since the age of two years. The right lower lobe was resected with fistula and the patient was completely cured as the first case. Both two cases did not accompany inflammatory findings around the fistulal and no lymphnode adhesion was found. Pathologically the fistula contained the normal esophagus membrane showing signs of transition from esophageal epithelium to bronchial epithelium. It was concluded from these operative and pathohistological findings they were congenital fistula between the esophagus and the bronchus.