
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Mallory-Weiss syndrome differential diagnosis
Introduction

Overview
Overview
Mallory-Weiss syndrome must be differentiated from other causes of Upper gastrointestinal bleeding such as PUD, Esophagogastric varices, Severe or erosive gastritis/duodenitis, Angiodysplasia.
Differential Diagnosis
Differential Diagnosis
Mallory-Weiss syndrome must be differentiated from other diseases that cause esophageal ulcers such as:[1]
| Diseases | History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Upper endoscopy | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hematemesis | Epigastric pain | Light-headedness | Retching | Heartburn | History of medication | Vomiting | History of alcoholism | Tachycardia | Skin Pallor | Hypotension | Weak pulse | Hemoglobin | Platelets | BUN | ||
| Mallory-Weiss syndrome | + | + | + (with heavy bleeding) | + | – | – | + | + | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | ↓ | ↓ | ↑ | Tears are usually single and located in the esophagogastric junction, usually extends into the cardia and sometimes into the esophagus |
| Infectious esophagitis | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Ulcerations are multiple and usually involve the proximal esophagus | |||
| Medication-induced esophagitis | – | + | – | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | – | Ulcerations are usually singular and deep | |||
| Reflux esophagitis | – | + | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Ulcerations are usually in distal esophagus, and maybe irregular and multiple | |||
Mallory-Weiss syndrome must be differentiated from other causes of Upper gastrointestinal bleeding:[2][3][4][5]
| Diseases | History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Upper endoscopy | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hematemesis | Epigastric pain | Retching | History of alcoholism | Light-headedness | history of cirrhosis | NSAIDs use | Helicobacter pylori infection | Tachycardia | Hypotension | Skin Pallor | Weak pulse | CBC | Platelets | BUN | ||
| Mallory-Weiss syndrome | + | + | + | + | + | – | – | – | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\uparrow</math> | Tears are usually single and located in the esophagogastric junction, usually extends into the cardia and sometimes into the esophagus |
| PUD | +/- | + | – | +/- | – | – | + | + | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\uparrow</math> | Discrete mucosal lesions with a punched-out smooth ulcer base with whitish fibrinoid base |
| Esophagogastric varices | + | + | +/- | + | + | – | – | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\uparrow</math> | The varices may be in the esophagus and/or the stomach. | |
| Severe or erosive gastritis/duodenitis | + | + | +/- | – | – | +/- | – | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\uparrow</math> | Erythema, mucosal erosions, the absence of rugal folds, and visible vessels | |
| Angiodysplasia | + | + | – | – | +/- | – | – | – | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | + (with heavy bleeding) | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\downarrow</math> | <math>\uparrow</math> | small, flat, cherry-red lesions with a fern-like pattern |
References
References
- ↑ Sutton FM, Graham DY, Goodgame RW (1994). “Infectious esophagitis”. Gastrointest. Endosc. Clin. N. Am. 4 (4): 713–29. PMID 7812643.
- ↑ Boonpongmanee S, Fleischer DE, Pezzullo JC, Collier K, Mayoral W, Al-Kawas F, Chutkan R, Lewis JH, Tio TL, Benjamin SB (2004). “The frequency of peptic ulcer as a cause of upper-GI bleeding is exaggerated”. Gastrointest. Endosc. 59 (7): 788–94. PMID 15173790.
- ↑ Enestvedt BK, Gralnek IM, Mattek N, Lieberman DA, Eisen G (2008). “An evaluation of endoscopic indications and findings related to nonvariceal upper-GI hemorrhage in a large multicenter consortium”. Gastrointest. Endosc. 67 (3): 422–9. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2007.09.024. PMID 18206878.
- ↑ Balderas V, Bhore R, Lara LF, Spesivtseva J, Rockey DC (2011). “The hematocrit level in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: safety of endoscopy and outcomes”. Am. J. Med. 124 (10): 970–6. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2011.04.032. PMID 21962318.
- ↑ Wollenman CS, Chason R, Reisch JS, Rockey DC (2014). “Impact of ethnicity in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage”. J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 48 (4): 343–50. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000025. PMC 4157370. PMID 24275716.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohamed Diab, MD [2]
