Optimal Management of Esophageal Leiomyoma

Understanding Esophageal Leiomyoma

• Leiomyomas are benign tumors and account for approximately two-thirds of all spindle cell tumors of the esophagus 1
• Histologic evaluation is necessary to differentiate leiomyoma from GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor) 1
• Tissue sampling using fine needle aspiration (FNA) or fine needle biopsy (FNB) can be useful to confirm diagnosis 1

Treatment Approach

• More extensive resections (Ivor-Lewis, transhiatal, or segmental) are unnecessarily invasive for benign disease 2