Abstract
A 72 year old male was referred to our hospital for an esophageal polyp. A barium swallow study showed about 1 cm polypoid lesion in the middle esophagus (Figure 1). Endoscopic examination revealed a pedunculated tumor about 33 cm from the incisors (Figure 2 and 3). The tumor surface was smooth and covered with whitish yellow esophageal mucosa and it felt soft by compression of biopsy forceps. Endoscopic polypectomy was successfully performed at the stalk of the polyp by a snare with electric coagulation. No bleeding was observed. The excised specimen was measured 6×5×4 mm. As a result of microscopic examination, it turned out to be a capillary hemangioma (Figure 3 and 4). This is a very rare tumor of the esophagus and only 44 cases including Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome etc. have been reported in Japan. Endoscopic polypectomy was performed in 9 of those cases. According to analyses of those cases, endoscopic polypectomy could be done safely without bleeding, if the hemangioma is small and pedunculated. Also endoscopic polypectomy is the first choice of examination and treatment for a small and pedunculated polyp, if it is not a part of multiple tumor diseases.
