Esophageal leiomyoma: modern aspects of diagnosis and treatment

Introduction. The relevance of studying esophageal leiomyomas lies in the necessity of differential diagnosis with malignant processes and the selection of an optimal treatment strategy. Objective of the study: To review current aspects of diagnosis and treatment of esophageal leiomyomas. Materials and Methods. For the analysis, various databases were used, including MedLine, Science Direct, PubMed, and eLIBRARY.ru. The search was conducted using keywords. Research methods included analytical analysis and generalization of data. Results. The choice of surgical treatment should be based on a thorough evaluation of each individual case. According to clinical guidelines, thoracoscopy is preferred for tumors measuring 2–5 cm, availability of an experienced surgical team, and absence of severe comorbid pathology. Open surgeries remain the method of choice for giant leiomyomas, central localization near the cardia, and cases combined with other esophageal diseases. Conclusion. Modern studies confirm that thoracoscopic techniques provide comparable radicality with significantly reduced invasiveness when patients are properly selected. However, the final decision must consider all clinical factors and the technical capabilities of the medical facility. Open surgeries remain relevant for giant tumors and complex localizations. Current evidence demonstrates that thoracoscopic approaches, under appropriate patient selection, achieve equivalent efficacy while minimizing procedural trauma.