Esophagus: Benign neoplasms

Abstract

Benign esophageal neoplasms are uncommon. The 2010 World Health Organization classification of esophageal neoplasms divides benign and malignant neoplasms into four categories: epithelial, mesenchymal, lymphoma, and secondary (Bosman et al. 2010). Epithelial neoplasms originate from the esophageal mucosa, while mesenchymal neoplasms arise from the submucosa, which may also be referred to as the subepithelium. The majority of epithelial neoplasms are malignant or premalignant. They include premalignant conditions such as squamous papilloma and carcinoma in situ, squamous carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and neuroendocrine neoplasms. In contrast, the majority of mesenchymal neoplasms are benign. Leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor and most common mesenchymal tumor. Other mesenchymal neoplasms are rare in the esophagus. These include fibrovascular polyp, granular cell, hemangioma, lymphangioma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), glomus tumor, schwannoma, and lipoma. Nonneoplastic esophageal lesions such as esophageal duplication cyst, inflammatory polyps, and heterotopia may mimic esophageal neoplasms and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of esophageal polyps and masses. This chapter discusses the clinical and radiologic features of benign esophageal neoplasms.