Diffuse Esophageal Leiomyomatosis in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review and Quality of Evidence Assessment

Diffuse Esophageal Leiomyomatosis and the Surgical Challenges Encountered

Diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis (DEL) is a rare condition characterized by the growth of multiple benign smooth muscle tumors (leiomyomas) in the esophagus. These tumors can cause obstruction and functional impairment of the esophagus, leading to symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and weight loss. The disease can present with leiomyomas or glomerular nephropathy in other body parts, hearing defects, astigmatism, or myopia (Alport's syndrome). However, isolated cases are also reported in the literature. Surgical management of DEL presents several challenges due to the location and extent of the tumors. Herein, we describe a girl afflicted with DEL and required multiple surgeries for management, highlighting the unique challenges faced by the surgical team in restoring esophageal function and improving the patient's quality of life.

Paediatric diffuse oesophageal leiomyomatosis with Alport syndrome

Diffuse oesophageal leiomyomatosis is a rare benign disease in the paediatric population. This report highlights a recent clinical case, together with a narrative review of current world literature.An early middle childhood girl with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections for 2 years was noted to have a retrocardiac lesion on chest X-ray, later confirmed to be an oesophageal mass on CT imaging. She underwent an Ivor-Lewis oesophagogastrectomy and a Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty. Pathology examination revealed type I diffuse oesophageal leiomyomatosis. Alport syndrome was later confirmed following an episode of postoperative haematuria, which was corroborated by electron microscopy examination following renal biopsy.With an oesophageal mass lesion and Alport syndrome, oesophageal leiomyomatosis should be suspected in any patient with a clinical history of dysphagia and/or respiratory symptoms. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue biopsy is valuable for diagnosis of all suspected lesions. Surgical resection is mandatory to effect cure.

Thoracoscopy-Assisted Esophagectomy for Esophageal Leiomyomatosis

INTRODUCTION

Diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis is a rare esophageal tumor characterized by circumferential thickening of smooth muscle layers of the entire esophagus. CLINICAL CASE: Herein, we describe the case of a 19-year-old girl, who presented with a history of long-standing dysphagia. On evaluation she was found to have diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis and was managed successfully by thoracoscopy-assisted esophagectomy with intra-nodal indocyanine green injection.

DISCUSSION

In this report, we discuss the pre-operative workup and our surgical approach to managing this rare entity. We also discuss the available literature on the subject and the lessons learnt in managing this complex condition.

Leiomyomatosis in an Infant With a SUFU Splice Site Variant: Case Report

Heterozygous loss-of-function variants in the suppressor of fused protein gene (SUFU) can result in Gorlin syndrome, which is characterized by an increased frequency of basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, odontogenic keratocysts, as well as other tumors. We describe a case of a 5-month-old female who presented with multiple intra-abdominal leiomyomata and was found to have a likely pathogenic splice site variant in the SUFU gene. This is the first reported case of leiomyomatosis secondary to a pathogenic SUFU variant in an infant and may represent an early, atypical presentation of Gorlin syndrome.

Alport-leiomyomatosis syndrome requiring subtotal esophagectomy for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease after childhood partial esophagogastrectomy: a case report

Alport-leiomyomatosis syndrome is an extremely rare condition occurring at a young age in which Alport syndrome coexists with diffuse leiomyomatosis of the digestive tract (primarily the esophagus). Most patients with diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis require esophagectomy of variable extents. A 20-year-old man with Alport-leiomyomatosis syndrome was diagnosed with dysphasia and hematuria in childhood. Although he underwent partial esophagogastrectomy at 8 years of age, extremely severe gastroesophageal reflux symptoms were noted postoperatively. He was diagnosed with refractory severe reflux esophagitis associated with diffuse leiomyomatosis and esophagogastric anastomosis, for which he underwent subtotal esophagectomy, gastric tube reconstruction, and esophagogastric anastomosis in the left neck. The postoperative course was generally good, and he had no postoperative reflux symptoms. To achieve long-term control of symptoms, the lesion must be removed completely; nevertheless, unnecessarily extensive esophagectomy should be avoided.