[Granular-cell tumor of the esophagus]

Abstract

A granular-cell oesophageal tumour was demonstrated in a 47-year-old man. With rare exception this type of tumour is benign. As it grows dysphagia develops. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice. It should be a wide excision, because the non-encapsulated tumour is microscopically more extensive than macroscopically. If too little is excised it may recur. But the high operative risk justifies expectant waiting, perhaps combined with local partial endoscopic removal of the tumour. Only in the rare instance of a small or pedicled tumour is total endoscopic excision possible.