Endoscopic removal of colonic leiomyoma

Most gastrointestinal leiomyomas are found in the stomach, only 3% of them arising in the colon. Surgical resection of the leiomyoma is usually necessary owing to its submucosal location. We describe a patient with a 1.5 cm pedunculated leiomyoma of the colon successfully removed by colonoscopic snare electrocauterization. We believe this to be the first report of a colonic leiomyoma of this size removed endoscopically without complication. We review the literature regarding gastrointestinal leiomyomas with special attention to pedunculated leiomyomas and their endoscopic management.