Smooth-Muscle Tumours of the Oesophagus

Abstract

A series of 11 patients with leiomyoma and one with leiomyosarcoma of the oesophagus is presented. Dysphagia and pain were the main symptoms both in the group of leiomyomas and in the case of leiomyosarcoma. Plain chest roentgenograms revealed the leiomyosarcoma and the leiomyoma in 6 patients. Marked calcification was demonstrated both roentgenologically and histologically in one leiomyoma. One leiomyoma was intraluminal and pedunculated, the others were intramural and sessile. There was no mortality after surgical removal of the tumours. The patients with leiomyomas were asymptomatic 6 months to 18 years after operation. The patient with leiomyosarcoma died 1 year after operation from a recurrence of the tumour.