Minimally invasive surgery for submucosal benign esophageal tumors: indications, preoperative investigations, patient selection, and clinical outcomes

Benign submucosal esophageal tumors are rare and are most commonly represented by leiomyomas. Patients with tumors that are symptomatic or grow rapidly and require differential diagnosis with malignancy should be removed, preferably by extramucosal enucleation, through a thoracoscopic or laparoscopic approach. These minimally invasive techniques have been demonstrated to be safe and effective, and result in minimal postoperative pain, short hospital stay, and clinical outcomes equivalent to the open approach.