Fibrovascular polyp of the cervical esophagus

Presentation and Management of Giant Fibrovascular Polyps of the Hypopharynx and Esophagus

Objective:

Fibrovascular polyps of the hypopharynx and esophagus are rare, with few case reports in the literature. In this article, we present our institutional experience with a focus on airway and surgical management.

Study Design:

Case series.

Setting:

Tertiary academic institution.

Methods:

A retrospective review was conducted of 4 patients that presented to a tertiary medical center with fibrovascular polyps between 1990 and 2012. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, and surgical approaches were reviewed. A review of the published literature was also performed.

Results:

The average age at presentation was 72 years (range, 59-85 years). Among the 4 patients, 2 presented with airway compromise requiring tracheotomy. All patients had removal of the polyp shortly after presentation; 2 underwent transcervical approaches with lateral pharyngotomy/esophagotomy, and the other 2 had endoscopic removal. The polyps arose from the hypopharynx in 3 patients and upper esophagus in 1. Three patients had complete resolution of their symptoms and remained disease free. One patient had recurrence of the polyp 2 years later and is currently being observed.

Conclusion:

Fibrovascular polyps are rare tumors of the hypopharynx/esophagus that present in older adults. Although benign, they can cause life-threatening airway compromise that may necessitate tracheotomy. We present 4 cases of fibrovascular polyps and discuss our evolving surgical management, including endoscopic removal.

Giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus: report of a case

A fibrovascular polyp is a peculiar nonepithelial tumor of the esophagus that invariably arises in the cervical esophagus at the level of the thoracic inlet and grows distally into a massive elongated, pedunculated, intraluminal lesion. Although it is a benign lesion that is eminently resectable, it is a dramatic entity owing to its tendency to cause bizarre complications such as asphyxia and sudden death when it regurgitates into the pharynx and causes laryngeal impaction. This report describes the multimodality imaging appearance of an archetypal case of a giant fibrovascular polyp in a patient with a seemingly innocuous presentation for the size of the lesion. The essential role of cross-sectional imaging in establishing a prompt diagnosis, defining the tissue elements of the mass, and delineation of the exact extent of the lesion in guiding the treatment approach is highlighted. The appearance of fibrovascular polyp in a single patient with a combination of barium swallow, multidetector computed tomography, and high-resolution contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging has not been reported previously.