Surveillance Is Important After Surgical Excision of Giant Fibrovascular Polyps of the Esophagus

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 104; no. 4; pp. e341 - e343
• Main Authors: Cockbain, Andrew J., England, Ruth, Dexter, Simon P.L., Sarela, Abeezar I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-10-2017
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Esophageal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; Esophageal Stenosis - diagnosis; Esophageal Stenosis - etiology; Esophagoscopy - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Physiologic - methods; Polyps - diagnostic imaging; Polyps - pathology; Polyps - surgery; Rare Diseases; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Sampling Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2017.05.049

Giant fibrovascular polyps of the esophagus are rare benign tumors arising from the cervical esophagus or hypopharynx. Radiologic and endoscopic investigation may struggle to identify a stalk or to delineate the tumor as luminal or submucosal in origin. Excision is advised, although the diagnosis, and therefore the optimal operative approach, may not be apparent until the time of operation. Individual case reports describe the technical success of surgical excision but rarely include follow-up. Our case series highlights the range of approaches for surgical excision and also the importance of long-term follow-up because of the risk of recurrence and potential for airway obstruction.