title: Endoscopic resection of a large colonic leiomyoma.
abstract: A 48-year old man suffered from intermittent hematochezia and abdominal cramping over a period of four weeks. A colonoscopy revealed a 4.5 cm semi-pedunculated tumor in the transverse colon. Using a 2-channel colonoscope, the tumor was successfully removed with an electro-surgical snare after normal saline submucosal injection. Microscopic examination revealed it to be a smooth muscle tumor without mitosis. The patient recovered well, and did not have a residual tumor in a follow-up colonoscopy. We found no reports of a colonic leiomyoma larger than 3 cm which was completely removed by a colonoscope. According to the case presented here, intraluminal colonic leiomyoma can be completely resected with skillful manipulation of a colonoscope, even if the tumor is as large as 4.5 cm. Successful endoscopic polypectomy of colonic leiomyoma reduces the cost of treatment and eliminates unnecessary surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: I-Lin
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shui-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Kan-Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cheng-Tang
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Cheng-Shyong
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography