Esophageal leiomyoma enucleated under the thoracoscopy; report of a case

We report a case of a 40-year-old male with a posterior mediastinal mass that was 8 cm in size and located behind the trachea. The thoracoscopic surgery was performed. The tumor was located from the level of left brachiocephalic vein to the carina. The mediastinal pleura over the tumor was longitudinally opened by cautery-scissors. The azygos vein lying over the tumor was divided by means of an endoscopic stapler. The muscular layer of the esophagus was also longitudinally opened. The tumor was enucleated. Then, the dissected proper muscle layer of the esophagus was suture-closed. The postoperative course was uneventful. On the first postoperative day Gastrografin was swallowed, showing the absence of leaks. The patient was discharged on the fourth postoperative day. The advantages of the thoracoscopic surgery are as follows: rapid, full recovery of the patient; decreased postoperative pain; short postoperative hospital stay. Esophageal leiomyoma in selected patient was suitable for thoracoscopic enucleation.