ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the experience of diagnosis and treatment of esophageal leiomyoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 52 patients with esophageal leiomyoma were analyzed from 1993 to 2002.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>About 54% patients in this group had difficulty of food intake. The diagnostic accuracy of gastrointestinal barium meal series, computed tomography, gastric endoscope and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for esophageal leiomyoma was 64% 44% 27% and 90% respectively. All patients received operation, resection of esophageal leiomyoma by videothoracoscopy (VAS) and endoscope were performed in 6, 9 patients respectively. The remaining 37 patients received regular open operation,in whom 32 cases received enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma, 5 cases received partial esophageal resection and esophageal-gastric anastomosis. No serious complications occurred except only one case needed operation again because of bleeding.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EUS is an effective method for diagnosing esophageal leiomyoma. VAS and endoscopic treatment should be considered for suitable cases in order to reduce the trauma.</p>