Analysis of misdiagnosis of esophageal leiomyoma / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the causes of misdiagnosis of esophageal leiomyoma.Methods The clinical data of 20 patients who were preoperatively misdiagnosed as esophageal leiomyoma at our hospital in 16 years were retrospectively analyzed.There were 11 males(55%) and 9 females(45%) with a mean age of(45.9 ± 16.4) years(range, 13-71 years).The initial presentations were obstructive symptoms in 12 patients(60%).CT imaging were performed in 9 patients(45%), of which 4 cases were enhanced CT(20%).Results The misdiagnosed patients included 5 cases of extraesophageal lesions(4 cases of paraesophageal lymph node tuberculosis and 1 case of lymph node hyperplasia), 8 cases of begin interstitial diseases(3 cases of neurinoma, 3 cases of inclusion cyst, 2 cases of angioma), 5 cases of malignant interstitial diseases(4 cases of GIST, 1 case of PNET), and 2 cases of esophageal cancer.The 4 cases of esophageal tuberculosis were misdiagnosed due to the absence of CT examination.The patients with esophageal cancer were treated with esophageal resection and reconstruction without clear staging of the tumor.This might be associated with the neglection of the rapid symptom development and the characteristic lumen stenosis under the gastroscope.The characteristic mucosal ulcer in patients with highly malignant GIST was overlooked.The disease relapsed postoperatively because only tumor enucleation was performed.Conclusion Preoperative diagnosis of esophageal leiomyoma is not uncommon.This disease is most often misdiagnosed as paraesophageal lymph node tuberculosis or esophageal GIST.CT examination is useful in distinguishing esophageal leiomyoma and paraesophageal lymph node tuberculosis.The roles of reoperation and adjuvant therapy in the surgical treatment of esophageal leiomyoma need further investigation.