[Surgical treatment of esophageal tuberculosis]

Esophageal tuberculosis, being rare, traditionally has been treated by antituberculous drug therapy, respectively by esophagectomy. A 66-year-old women is reported showing a productive/caseous tuberculosis of the mid-esophagus without pulmonary lesions. In suspicion of a benign tumor thoracotomy was done, and an enlarged oval excision of the esophagus wall with a longitudinal closure was performed. Chemotherapy was applied for one year. 3 1/2 years postoperatively there is a free passage of the esophagus, and the patient seems to be healed.