• gastroenterology
• oesophageal disease
• general medicine (see internal medicine)

A 67-year-old woman with adenocarcinoma of the lung, who previously received chemotherapy and radiation therapy, presented with acute-onset right lower extremity weakness. She began radiation therapy to the lumbar spine after MRI demonstrated spinal cord compression. She then developed sudden-onset difficulty with swallowing approximately 6 hours after taking her scheduled morning medications. Of note, she had no prior known difficulties with eating. A barium swallow study revealed narrowing in the mid-thoracic oesophagus with an associated filling defect, reflecting the presence of a foreign body (figure 1A). Subsequent esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an extended-release potassium chloride tablet corresponding to the filling defect seen on the barium swallow study (figure 1B); the obstruction …