A CASE OF ESOPHAGEAL LEIOMYOMA OCCURRING IN A YOUNG PERSON

Abstract

Esophageal leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor of the esophagus, but rarely occurs in young persons. The following is a report of a case of esophageal leiomyoma in a 19-year-old female.A 19-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for a submucosal tumor of the esophagus in October, 1988. She had been complaining of dysphagia occasionally since about 13-year-old. A diagnosis of leiomyoma was made after examination by esophagography, esophagoscopy, CT scan, and echo esophagoscopy. Lower esophageal segment was resected through thoracotomy and laparotomy on the left side followed by esophagogastrostomy. The tumor as large as about 5×4×2 cm was present in the inferior esophageal segment. The cut surface of the solid tumor was gray-white. A histological diagnosis of leiomyoma was made.Only 10 cases of esophageal leiomyoma under 20 years of age, including this case have been reported in the Japanese literature. It was predominant in women and often large in size.