Abstract

MAINIERI-BREEDY, Giovanna  and  MAINIERI-HIDALGO, José-Alberto. Esophageal leiomyoma: Experience with nine surgical patients. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2012, vol.54, n.3, pp.165-169. ISSN 0001-6002.

Objective: To inform about the experience acquired operating esophageal leiomyoma in the Thoracic Surgery Department of the Calderón Guardia Hospital.   Methods: Fourteen patients with submucosal esophageal tumors were referred to the Thoracic Surgery Department at Hospital Calderón Guardia during the twelve-year period comprised between 1999 and 2011. The approach for four asymptomatic patients with a small mass was observation, and the remaining ten underwent surgical procedures, which confirmed the histologic diagnosis of leiomyoma. Once authorization was granted by the hospital’s Ethics Committee, clinical records were reviewed, considering personal characteristics, symptoms, methods for diagnosis, surgical treatment and follow-up for the patients involved.   Results: Ten surgical patients were analyzed, eight were male and two female. Their age ranged from 38 to 71 years, with a mean of 56 years. Their primary complaint was dysphagia, but in three cases the tumor findings were incidental, while performing a routine upper endoscopy. In all cases the method used for detection was an upper endoscopy describing either a submucosal tumor or an extrinsic compression of the esophageal wall. The endoscopic ultrasound correlated in all cases that the tumor originated from the fourth layer of the esophagus, compatible with leiomyoma. In two cases the possibility of malignancy was questioned due to the dimensions of the lesion. Nine patients were operated through a thoracotomy and one through a laparotomy. In 7 cases enucleating was successful without perforation of the mucosa. In two patients partial esophagectomy with anastomosis and diaphragmatic patch was performed. In an exceptional case, the tumor extended from the cervical esophagus to the esophagogastric union, so a total esophagectomy was done with a gastric interposition. There was no mortality reported. One patient had complications with an small anastomotic leak that was resolved without intervention. Two patients had respiratory complications that prolonged their hospital stay. There has not been any relapse or other complication; the follow up ranges between 8 months and 12 years.   Conclusion: The esophageal leiomyoma is an un common pathology. The surgery of submucosal esophageal tumors can be performed without mayor morbidity if there is an adequate preoperative evaluation and management. None of the cases of this series had complications or recurrence to the date the study was made

Keywords : esophageal leiomyoma; esophagus; tumors; endoscopic ultrasound.

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