Thoracoscopic enucleation of a giant leiomyoma of the esophagus

Video assisted thoracoscopy or laparoscopy for enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma: A seven-year single center experience of 75 cases

OBJECTIVE

Leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor of the esophagus. Extra mucosal enucleation is the standard treatment. Herein we evaluated the feasibility and the outcomes of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) using video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) or laparoscopic surgery (VALS) for esophageal leiomyoma enucleation.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Retrospective study of patients who were treated via VATS or VALS for esophageal leiomyoma enucleation in "Hanoi Viet Duc Hospital" from 2010 to 2017 by the same operator. The operative approach, tumor size, complications and outcomes after surgery were recorded.

RESULTS

Seventy-five patients were included. Mean age was 41.9 (range 20-68) years. The male/female sex ratio was 2.1:1. Fifty-five patients had clinical symptoms (73.3%). Tumors were identified in the upper third (12%), middle third (51%), and lower third (37%) of the esophagus. Mean tumor size was 3.7 (range 2-11) cm. VALS enucleation was performed in 23 patients who had leiomyoma located near the cardia (gastroesophageal junction or abdominal esophagus). The remaining 52 patients underwent right (n=42) or left VATS (n=10). Five patients (6.7%) sustained esophageal mucosa injury during dissection, repaired by MIS without late morbidity. A mini-incision (2 mini-laparotomies and 1 thoracotomy) was required in three patients (4%) due to large tumor size or mucosal injury. The mean operative time was 105min in VATS and 174min in VALS. No major perioperative surgical or medical complications were reported. The mean duration of hospital stay was 7.2 (range 5-12) days.

CONCLUSIONS

MIS enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma is technically safe and associated with a high therapeutic success rate with low medico-surgical morbidity. VATS could be applied for almost all esophageal leiomyoma tumors; however, the VALS approach was preferred for tumors located near the gastroesophageal junction in order to create an anti-reflux valve after enucleation.

[Leiomyoma of the esophagus : A further indication for robotic surgery?]

BACKGROUND

Leiomyomas of the esophagus are rare tumors but the most common benign lesion of the esophagus originating from smooth muscle cells. The symptoms are mainly determined by the size of the tumor and are caused by dysphagia and/or retrosternal pain. The majority of patients are however asymptomatic. The diagnostics include esophagoscopy, endosonography and chest computed tomography. Surgery is considered the treatment of choice and ideally involves enucleation of the tumor but may lead to esophagectomy. In addition to the classical open procedures, minimally invasive procedures are also used. Regardless of the selected procedure, a lesion of the mucosa should be avoided.

OBJECTIVE

A review of the literature on thoracoscopic and robotic resections in the treatment of leiomyomas was carried out and an illustration of a clinical case is presented.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A review of minimally invasive surgical treatment of esophageal leiomyomas is presented. The literature search was carried out in PubMed for publications of thoracoscopic and robotic-assisted thoracic enucleation of leiomyomas of the esophagus. In addition, the robotic-assisted thoracic enucleation of a horseshoe-shaped leiomyoma in the middle third of the esophagus is described.

RESULTS

The enucleation of the esophageal leiomyoma was carried out through a right-sided robotic-assisted operation with one lung ventilation. The surgery time was 143 min. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. On the 3rd postoperative day a light diet was started and the thorax drainage was removed. Histopathology confirmed a leiomyoma. The patient was discharged on the 5th postoperative day and free of complaints.

CONCLUSION

Robotic-assisted surgery for leiomyomas of the esophagus is a safe procedure. Taking the available data into account, robotic-assisted thoracic enucleation of leiomyomas was characterized by less mucosal lesions, general complications and a lower conversion rate as well as a shorter hospital stay compared to classical thoracoscopic enucleation. Thus, robotic-assisted surgery can be the method of choice for leiomyomas of the esophagus.

[Diagnostics and treatment of patients with giant leiomyoma of the esophagus]

Diagnostics and surgical treatment of 2 patients with giant esophageal leiomyoma are reported. The diagnosis was confirmed by chest computed tomography, MRI of the mediastinum, endoscopic ultrasound. Resection of tumor with mucosa suturing and Nissen fundoplication was performed in 1 case. There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative partial failure of the seams of the esophageal wall occurred in 1 case. Drainage of posterior mediastinum was performed. Treatment resulted closure of the esophageal wall defect. Control postoperative examination confirmed patent esophagus and preserved passage through the esophagus. Multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment of these patients results favorable outcomes.

Missed diagnosis of esophageal leiomyoma leading to esophagectomy: a case report and review of literatures

Leiomyomas are the most common benign esophageal neoplasm. About half of them were smaller than 5 cm and asymptomatic with a stable size for many years. Esophageal leiomyomas that excess than 5 cm in size may develop as a consequence of giant one at rapid growth rate. This case report specifically describes a mid-aged woman who experienced a missed diagnosis of an esophageal leiomyoma over three years, which was covered by mediastinal thymolipoma and it subsequently developed as a giant tumor occupying the entire esophagus that makes the simple enucleation impossible. A surgical intervention of esophagectomy had to be performed to manage this entity.

Laparoscopic approach in the treatment of large leiomyoma of the lower third of the esophagus

Leiomyoma of the lower third of the esophagus is a relatively rare disorder but the most common benign tumor of the esophagus. We present a case of an involuted esophageal leiomyoma, 11 cm in size, treated by the laparoscopic approach. The preoperative computed tomogram visualized a mass 3 × 1.5 cm in diameter in the lower esophagus without an eccentric lumen or compression of nearby organs. Resection of the tumor was indicated according to the patient‘s symptoms and to exclude malignancy. Laparoscopic enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma was performed. The overall operative time was 205 min. The diagnosis of leiomyoma was established on histopathology and immunohistochemistry staining. The patient resumed the intake of a normal diet on the 5^th postoperative day and was discharged from hospital 8 days after the surgery. We have found this minimally invasive operation to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option, determined by the experience of the surgeon.

Minimally invasive surgery for giant esophageal leiomyoma: a case report & review of the literatures

Despite the rapid development of minimally invasive surgery, the treatment of esophageal lesions remains controversial. Giant esophageal leiomyoma could be removed once diagnosed, but its operative method is not quite the same as esophageal leiomyoma of small size. We report a case of giant esophageal leiomyoma and review published cases of giant leiomyomas in the past 10 years. A 29-year-old man was admitted to the clinic for the complaints of 2-month history of dysphagia and discomfort. Radiologic and endoscopic findings suggested esophageal lesion in the muscular layer. The VATS enucleation was performed to relieve the patient's symptoms. The patient started oral intake on the 1st postoperative day, with following solid meal. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 8^th postoperative day.