Methods: Between January 1999 and December 2011, eight cases (3 females, 5 males; mean age 41.5 years; range 30 to 66 years) who were operated due to leiomyoma were retrospectively analyzed. Age and sex of the patients, symptoms, localization of lesions, diagnosis, surgical modality, length of hospital stay and morbidity and mortality rates were reviewed.

Results: Six patients had dysphagia. Leiomyoma was localized at 1/3 mid-esophagus in five patients and at 1/3 distal esophagus in three patients. Three patients underwent thoracoscopic enucleation. Two patients underwent right thoracotomy, two with left thoracotomy and one with laparotomy and enucleation. The mean diameter of lesions was 5 cm (range, 2 to 7 cm). At three months following surgery, pseudodiverticulum was seen in one patient who underwent thoracoscopic enucleation. No intraoperative mortality was seen. The mean length of hospital stay was eight days (range, 5 to 12 days). During a mean follow-up of 16.4 months (range, 4 to 56 months), no recurrence or malignancy were observed.

Conclusion: Enucleation is an effective and safe diagnostic and therapeutic modality in patients with leiomyoma. Muscular layer should be also closed to prevent possible mucosal defects.