STRIP BIOPSY TO TREAT ESOPHAGEAL GRANULAR-CELL TUMOR

Esophageal granular cell tumors are rare neoplasms. We successfully tr eated a 35-year-old Japanese man with an esophageal granular cell tumo r without any complications using strip biopsy. Endoscopic ultrasonogr aphy revealed a hypoechoic tumor with a diameter of 8 mm that was conf ined to the submucosal layer. A strip biopsy done with a two-channel e ndoscope completely resected the tumor. Six months later, no abnormal findings were recognized in the resected area. Therefore we propose th at strip biopsy be considered as a viable alternative treatment for es ophageal granular cell tumor, depending on the histologic character, t umor size, and depth of tumor infiltration.