EVALUATION OF LEIOMYOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS WITH ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Fourteen patients with suspected leiomyoma of the esophagus were studi ed by endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography, endoscopy and b arium swallow. The results were correlated with the histology of the r esected specimens: in 2 patients with a peduncolated leiomyoma origina ting from the second echographic layer, endoscopic resection was perfo rmed. Endoscopic ultrasonography was superior to other imaging techniq ues in detection and staging of leiomyoma because it can determine the layer of origin, the direction of the growth and the consistency of t he tumor.