Cytologic Findings in Esophageal Perforation: An Institutional Experience With Pleural Fluid Specimens

Our experience corroborates that EP carries a high mortality risk, underscoring the need for prompt diagnosis. Although Candida species were present in only a small subset of pleural fluid samples, the presence of squamous cells or food/foreign material is a helpful diagnostic clue of EP, particularly in patients with a history of recent medical manipulation or malignancy involving the esophagus. Our findings highlight the potential of identifying involved pleural fluid cytology specimens to decrease the time to diagnosis of EP.