1997 Volume 58 Issue 8 Pages 1781-1785
A case of esophageal tuberculosis presenting as a submucosal tumor of the esophagus is reported.
A 62-year-old woman complaining of dysphagia and retrosternal pain was refered to the hospital, because she was pointed out abnormal findings on the esophagus roentgenogram at another hospital. Esophagofluoroscopy showed a rounded circumscribed filling defect at the middle portion of the esophagus. Endoscopic examination revealed a submucosal tumor of the esophagus. Biopsy specimens disclosed no histological evidence of malignancy. Surgical excision of the tumor was performed for amelioration of symptoms and precise diagnosis. Intraoperative frozen section demonstrated epithelioid granuloma, which was finally diagnosed as esophageal tuberculosis. After the operation, she was treated with isoniazid and rifampicin for six months. Postoperative course was uneventful. In differential diagnosis of submucosal tumor of the esophagus, esophageal tuberculosis must be included.
