[Muscular tumors of the esophagus. Apropos of 9 cases and review of the literature].

Between 1970 and 1983, nine cases of tumors of esophageal muscle and connective tissue were treated at the Centre Paul Lamarque. Leiomyoma (LM) (6 cases in this series) represented 0.8% of esophageal tumors reported from among 1,200 patients, while leiomyosarcoma (LMS) (3 cases in this series) were observed in 0.25%. LM is usually detected fortuitously and is asymptomatic, LMS provoking dysphagia of the "foreign body" type contrasting with the "monstrosity" of the radiologic image. Endoscopy and biopsy is justified only when LMS in suspected, since it could interfere with enucleation. Treatment is surgical, by enucleation without mucosal effraction for LM and esophageal resection for LMS. Adjuvant therapy has failed to provide evidence of efficacy.