Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40177232›Full record

ReviewCureus2025

Slicing Through the Options: A Systematic Review of Esophageal Leiomyoma Management.

Shelleen Gowrie, Anniesha Noel, Candace Wooten, Jennifer Powel, Jerzy Gielecki, Anna Zurada, Michael Montalbano, Marios Loukas

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Shelleen GowrieAnatomical Sciences, St. George's University, School of Medicine, St. George's, GRD.
Anniesha NoelPediatric Medicine, AdventHealth for Children, Orlando, USA.
Candace WootenFamily Medicine, Optum, New Albany, USA.
Jennifer PowelObstetrics and Gynecology, Hackensack Meridian Medical Group, Neptune, USA.
Jerzy GieleckiAnatomy, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, POL.
Anna ZuradaAnatomy/Radiology/Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, POL.
Michael MontalbanoAnatomical Sciences, St. George's University, School of Medicine, St. George's, GRD.
Marios LoukasAnatomical Sciences, St. George's University, School of Medicine, St. George's, GRD.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Esophageal leiomyomas are rare, benign tumors that can remain asymptomatic or cause dysphagia and chest discomfort when they grow large. Despite advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, optimal management remains debated. This systematic review evaluates current diagnostic modalities and treatment approaches, synthesizing findings from a comprehensive PubMed search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 51 studies were included, comprising six original studies, 26 case reports, nine retrospective cohort studies, nine case series, and two cross-sectional studies. Findings indicate that endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is the most accurate diagnostic tool (89% accuracy), while computed tomography (CT) and barium swallow studies provide complementary structural assessments. Immunohistochemical staining differentiates leiomyomas from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), with leiomyomas expressing desmin and smooth muscle actin (SMA) but lacking CD34 and KIT. Surgical intervention is recommended for symptomatic tumors or those exceeding 5 cm. Minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER), offer superior outcomes compared to traditional open surgery. RATS demonstrates a negligible mucosal injury rate versus 1-15% for other approaches, while STER minimizes blood loss and accelerates recovery. Postoperative outcomes are generally favorable, though transient gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common complication. While STER and RATS present effective alternatives with reduced morbidity, this review highlights limitations, including variability in study designs, small sample sizes, and a lack of long-term follow-up data. Further prospective studies are needed to optimize patient selection and establish long-term efficacy. This review provides insights to inform clinical practice and guide future research in the management of esophageal leiomyomas.

Indexed as

esophageal neoplasmsminimally invasive surgical proceduresrobot-assisted thoracoscopic surgerysubmucosal tunneling endoscopic resectiontreatment outcomesvideo-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (vats)

Identifiers

PMID40177232
PMCPMC11964123

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.