Inflammatory fibroid polyp of the esophagus

The case of a 76-year-old woman with a submucosal tumor of the esophagus, w hose principal symptoms were dysphagia and epigastric/retrosternal pain, is reported here. Endoscopy, barium swallow and a CAT scan all pointed to ext ramucosal localization. The lesion was located in the lower esophagus lying on the stomach fundus. An ulcer in the region of the cardia complicated th e tumor. Two sets of conventional biopsies failed to detect malignancy, onl y inflammation and intestinal metaplasia were seen in the specimens of the mucosa surrounding the ulcer. The endoscopic ultrasonographic findings were an indistinct margin, hypoechogenicity, homogeneous appearance and locatio n within the second and third echographic layer. The surgical resection of the tumor was complemented by an anterior partial fundoplication. The histo logic study revealed an inflammatory fibroid polyp, which is a rare, benign , non-capsulated submucosal lesion composed mainly of loose connective tiss ue and vessels, with an eosinophilic inflammatory component. This lesion is seldom found in the esophagus.