Thoracoscopic removal of benign tumours of the oesophagus

Thoracoscopic excision of an oesophageal leiomyoma was successfully performed in 4 patients. The tumours were enucleated easily without intraoperative complication. A patient in whom the muscular layer was not sutured after removal of the myoma presented with a pseudo-diverticulum one year after the operation and required a thoracotomy for resection. This new procedure which reduces the operative trauma and postoperative pain and allows quick recovery, is described.