We report a case of esophageal perforation caused by a piece of glass in a 34-year-old woman suffering from sudden severe pharyngeal pain. We found a foreign body lodged at the esophageal wall 4cm below from the first esophageal constriction upon X-ray and flexible fiberscopic examination. The foreign body was removed using a rigid esophagoscope 39 hours after swallowing. The foreign body was an equilateral triangular piece of glass whose side was 30mm. Immediately after the foreign body was removed, we found an esophageal perforation, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum. The perforation was closed using an external approach. The patient showed improvement after the operation.
