| History: recent diagnostic or therapeutic intervention on the esophagus or adjacent organs |
| Clinical signs and symptoms: pain in the neck, chest, back or epigastrium, subcutaneous emphysema, fever, tachypnoea, tachycardia, hypotension, dysphagia, odynophagia, dysphonia, dyspnea, cough, nausea, vomiting |
| Lateral neck radiograph: subcutaneous emphysema, anterior displacement of the trachea, gas in the prevertebral fascial planes |
| Chest radiograph: subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, mediastinal air-fluid level, mediastinal widening, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hydropneumothorax, subdiaphragmatic air |
| Contrast esophagography: extraluminal contrast |
| Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography: extraluminal contrast, mediastinal air, periesophageal fluid collection, pleural effusion, esophageal thickening, communication of the air-filled esophagus with a mediastinal air-fluid collection |
| Flexible esophagoscopy: visualization of esophageal defect |
| Pleural fluid analysis: elevated salivary amylase, pH <6, presence of undigested food or liquids |
