Endoscopic mucosal incision for successful treatment of submucosal abscess extending the full length of the esophagus due to fish bone: report of a case

Submucosal abscess of the esophagus is extremely rare, and treatment has yet to be well established. A 58-year-old man with no relevant past medical history visited an otolaryngological clinic with a chief complaint of throat irritation. Computed tomography revealed submucosal abscess extending the full length of the esophagus after abnormally high white blood cell count and C-reactive protein levels were noted. A fish bone was removed surgically via the right side of the neck, and the submucosal abscess was drained by endoscopic mucosal incision. Oral intake was started on postoperative day 10 and the patient was discharged without any complications. Endoscopic submucosal incision is a useful and less-invasive therapy for treating esophageal submucosal abscess.