Diffuse leiomyomatosis of the esophagus

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Diffuse leiomyomatosis of the esophagus is an exceptionally rare benign smooth muscle tumor.
• It presents as multiple confluent nodules throughout the esophageal wall, primarily affecting the muscularis layers.
• This condition is often incidentally discovered and may remain asymptomatic for extended periods.

Observation:

• A 44-year-old male patient presented with an incidentally discovered abnormal filling defect during esophagography.
• The lesion, characterized by numerous confluent myomatous nodules in the thoracic esophagus, was monitored for two years.
• Despite remaining asymptomatic, surgical intervention was pursued due to observed tumor growth.

Findings:

• Histopathological examination confirmed the nodules as leiomyomas, consistent with diffuse leiomyomatosis.
• The lesions were predominantly located in the circular layer of the muscularis propria and also involved the muscularis mucosa.
• This represents one of the few documented cases of this rare esophageal condition.

Implications:

• Successful surgical resection of diffuse leiomyomatosis of the esophagus is demonstrated.
• The case contributes to the limited literature, aiding in understanding the definition and clinical behavior of this rare entity.
• Further research into the pathogenesis and optimal management strategies for esophageal leiomyomatosis is warranted.