Benign tumors of oesophagus: value of endoscopy.

Endoscopic examination carried out in 20,000 patients allowed 7 benign tumors of the oesophagus to be detected. Four of them were intramural tumors corresponding to leiomyomas. Guided biopsies are not sufficient to assure an accurate diagnosis, but a mucosal lesion, particularly a carcinoma, should be ruled out. Endoscopic resection of the 3 intraluminal tumours was performed without incidents, allowing an accurate histologic diagnosis and a reasonable therapeutic approach. Endoscopic supervision is necessary in case of epithelial tumors.