[Thoracoscopic enucleation of leiomyoma of the esophagus--report of two cases].

Thoracoscopic enucleation of leiomyoma of the esophagus was successfully performed in two cases. This paper mainly describes a 53-year-old man who experienced with a slight dysphagia and retrosternal discomfort when moving. Esophagoscopy showed a mass beneath normal mucosa located at 26 cm from the incisor of the left anterior esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed a sharply delineated low echoic mass with regular echo-pattern, measuring 4 cm along the axis. The lesion was diagnosed as leiomyoma. The operation was performed under general anesthesia, keeping the patient on the left postero-lateral position. A double-lumen endotracheal tube was utilized and the right lung was collapsed. Six trocars were inserted through right intercostal spaces for operation. The azygos vein first of all was dissected and divided by an EndoGIA. The esophagus was then mobilized lengthwise enough to rotate the left side to the right with two slings traction for better visualization of the lesion site. Intraluminal balloon-mounted esophagoscope was useful enough to expose the tumor inner side out of the esophageal wall and the tumor was easily enucleated. After resection, intact esophageal mucosa was confirmed by endoscopy and the proper muscle layer of the esophagus was closed with 2-0 Vicryl. In the 2nd case, leiomyoma located at 32 cm from the incisor of the right esophageal wall, 4 x 1.5 x 1 cm in size, was removed by the same technique using five trocars, where neither the azygos vein divided nor the esophagus mobilized. Both patients showed uneventful recovery and the symptoms disappeared after operation. Intraluminal balloon-mounted esophagoscope was useful to do this kind of thoracoscopic procedure.