[Leiomyoma of the oesophagus].

INTRODUCTION

Oesophageal leiomyoma is a rare tumour. The purpose of this paper is to describe the form of presentation, the approaches and the surgical technique, in five consecutive cases.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed on the data recorded prospectively on five consecutive patients operated on between 2003 and 2007.

RESULTS

All the patients were seen due to dysphagia to solids. All were examined with contrast radiology, video-endoscopy and computed tomography, although 4 of them also had ultrasound endoscopy performed. The surgical technique was extra-mucosal enucleation, with 3 cases by thoracoscopy and 2 by thoracotomy. There were no complications. The immunohistochemistry study was negative for CD117 and CD34 in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Enucleation of oesophageal leiomyomas by video-thoracoscopy is safe, well tolerated, and there is a rapid recovery, and is the procedure of choice for this benign tumour. Thoracotomy may be necessary in some presentations and locations.