Diffuse leiomyomatosis of the esophagus: a case report and review of the literature.

A case of diffuse leiomyomatosis of the esophagus in a 21-year-old woman with a 5-year history of dysphagia is presented. The radiological appearance was that of achalasia, but at esophagoscopy, a diagnosis of an organic stricture of the lower end of the esophagus was made. During the operation a diffuse tumor involving the lower end of the esophagus, cardia, upper portion of the stomach, and the tail of the pancreas was found. The histological diagnosis was diffuse leiomyomatosis of the esophagus. The individual characteristics of the microscopic picture are described. Distal esophagectomy and total gastrectomy resulted in complete recovery of the patient. This is a very rare condition; only a dozen similar cases have been published before. The data of these patients are presented.