ABSTRACT
Leiomyomas are gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of mesenchymal origin, and are the most frequently occurring mesenchymal neoplasms of the alimentary canal. They may be benign, of intermediate malignant potential, or malignant. Mutations of the c-KIT oncogene are thought to be primarily responsible for most GISTs. Leiomyomas occur usually in patients between 20 and 50 years of age, they affect both genders, are located in the middle and lower thirds of the esophagus, and rarely present as multiple lesions. Furthermore, they do not infiltrate the surrounding tissue but may grow large enough to impede upon other structures 3 .
