Differential Diagnosis for Meat Bolus Obstruction

• Single most likely diagnosis:
  • Esophageal foreign body (meat bolus): This is the most likely diagnosis given the presentation of a meat bolus, as it directly implies an obstruction caused by a piece of food, commonly seen in the esophagus.
• Other Likely diagnoses:
  • Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus could be caused by the passage of a foreign body or by the attempt to swallow something that doesn't pass easily, like a large piece of meat.
  • Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing can be both a cause and a symptom of a meat bolus obstruction, as the physical blockage prevents normal swallowing.
• Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.):
  • Esophageal perforation: Although less likely, if the meat bolus causes a tear in the esophagus, it can lead to severe infection and death if not promptly treated.
  • Aspiration pneumonia: If the obstruction leads to regurgitation and aspiration of food or liquids into the lungs, it can cause a potentially fatal pneumonia.
• Rare diagnoses:
  • Eosinophilic esophagitis: An allergic inflammatory condition of the esophagus that could potentially cause difficulty swallowing, though it's less directly related to a meat bolus obstruction.
  • Esophageal stricture: A narrowing of the esophagus that could cause difficulty swallowing, but would be a more chronic condition rather than an acute obstruction caused by a meat bolus.