MUSCLE TUMORS OF THE DIGESTIVE-TRACT - AN ALYSIS OF 53 CASES

We present 53 cases of gastrointestinal smooth tumors (43 leiomyomas a nd 10 leiomyosarcomas) which have being diagnosed in Virgen del Camino Hospital during a period of 17 years. The aim of the research is to k now the incidence of such tumors, their clinical presentation, the use fulness of radiologic and endoscopic studies for their diagnosis, as s oon as to make a bibliographic revision of new diagnostic and therapeu tic methods. This kind of tumor had an incidence of 3.1 cases per year . The symptomatology because of which the patients consulted depended on the location and the size of the tumors, though 18% of the cases we re asymptomatic and were found in surgical operations. Endoscopic biop sy had a diagnostic sensibility of 28%; it didn't obstruct later exere sis. It has to be emphasized that, according to our bibliographic revi sion, there is a growing importance of endoscopic ecography, not only as for diagnosis, but also as for non surgical treatment of this kind of tumor. Endoscopic resection can be a valid alternative for exeresis of small tumors (less than 2 cm according to some authors); haemorrha ge is the most frequent complication, though it can be easily controll ed.