ESOPHAGEAL LEIOMYOMA
Background. Leiomyoma is the most common tumor of the esophagus and accounts for 60-70% of all benign diseases of the esophagus. This tumor is late diagnosed due to its slow growth. The clinical manifestations of the disease are usually mistaken for a prolonged period of time for functional disorders of the esophagus. Objective - to analyze our own results of surgical treatment of esophageal leiomyoma, early clinical symptoms of the disease, the data from special research methods; to use a minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic tumor removal method and to compare the results of this method with the thoracotomic surgical method of treatment. Materials and methods. There were 7 patients with esophageal leiomyoma under the treatment. All patients underwent general clinical examination and some special methods were used (ultrasound, CT, fibroesophagoscopy, contrast radiography of the esophagus). Results. All patients underwent surgical removal of the esophageal leiomyoma. Four patients underwent surgical removal of the tumor with right-sided thoracic access, and three with a thoracoscopic method. There were no lethal outcomes. Conclusion. All patients with esophageal leiomyoma are subject to surgical treatment because of the risk of malignization of the tumor. Videothoracoscopic method of surgical treatment is less traumatic, is better tolerated by patients and reduces the time of treatment. The immediate and long-term results of surgical treatment in all patients were good.