Treatment of Esophageal Leiomyoma with Video-assisted Thoracoscope / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the value of video-assisted thoracoscope in the treatment of esophageal leiomyoma. Methods Clinical data of 19 patients with esophageal leiomyoma treated by video-assisted thoracoscopy from July 2000 to October 2007 were reviewed retrospectively.Under general anaesthesia with the patients at the lateral position according to the location of esophageal leiomyoma,3 incisions were made on the chest wall for insertion of the trocars.Gastroscope was applied for intraoperative auxiliary operation.Results Under a video-assisted thoracoscope,enucleation of the leiomyoma was performed on 18 of the patients,the other one,who were diagnosed with esophageal leiomyoma(3 cm ? 2 cm) was converted to thoracotomy because of the tumor was confirmed huge during the thoracoscopy.No postoperative death or severe complications occurred.Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyoma in all of the cases.The patients were followed up for a mean of 24.5 months(5-35 months),no recurrence was found during the period. Conclusions Video-assisted thoracoscopy can be the first choice for the treatment of esophageal leiomyoma.Open surgery should be considered if the tumor is huge.