LEIOMYOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS TUMOR IN TEENAGERS

Background/Aims: Leiomyoma, the most common benign esophageal tumor, o ccurs rarely in youths. We herein reported our experiences with this t umor,paying particular attention to two cases in, teenagers. Materials and Methods: We have surgically treated 12 patients with leiomyoma of the esophagus from 1978 to 1995. Ten. of them occurred in. adult and two occurred in, teenagers aged 17 and 18. We evaluated the characteri stics, diagnosis and treatment of these cases, particularly in, young patients. Results: The age range was from 17 to 55, and the mean was 4 0.5 years. The mean. longitudinal size of 12 tumors in 10 adult cases was 4.9 cm, while both tumors in the teenagers were larger in size, ov er 10 cm. Endoscopic ultrasonography was useful in. the diagnosis of t he tumors. AIL tumors were enucleated without any complication. In you ng cases, in. spite of the Large size of the tumors, an, enucleation. was also possible and the long-term result was satisfactory. Conclusio n: Regarding the young cases, in spite of the large size of the tumor, art enucleation of the tumor should be tried whenever possible, in co nsideration of the patient's postoperative quality of life.