ESOPHAGEAL LEIOMYOMATOSIS

PURPOSE: To reassess the clinical and radiologic findings in patients with esophageal leiomyomatosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of the authors' radiologic archives revealed six cases of esophageal leiomyo matosis in a 22-year period. The clinical findings and radiologic imag es were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The average age of the pati ents was 10.8 years (range, 6-18 years). Five patients presented with slowly progressive dysphagia. Barium studies revealed smooth, tapered narrowing of the distal esophagus in five patients and characteristic defects on the superomedial aspect of the gastric fundus abutting the cardia, presumably due to bulging of this thickened mass of muscle int o the stomach, in four patients. In two patients, computed tomography (CT) revealed marked thickening of the distal esophageal wall. CONCLUS ION: Esophageal leiomyomatosis can be suggested in a pediatric patient with long-standing dysphagia in whom smooth, tapered distal esophagea l narrowing is seen at barium study and circumferential esophageal wal l thickening is seen at CT.