Laparoscopic Wedge Resection of Gastric Leiomyoma

Abstract

Gastric leiomyoma is a relatively rare gastric neoplasm. Before the routine use of laparoscopy, various methods of treatment for gastric leiomyoma included open celiotomy with gastric wedge resection, partial gastrectomy, enucleation, and extended gastrectomy with en bloc resection of adjacent organs. Below, we describe a case of laparoscopic wedge resection and review the various laparoscopic techniques for the treatment of gastric leiomyoma.

INTRODUCTION

Gastric leiomyomas represent 2.5% of gastric neoplasms.^1,2 Although most are asymptomatic, they may enlarge or result in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Most symptomatic patients present with postprandial fullness and gastrointestinal hemorrhage; however, other patients present with an incidental submucosal filling defect on upper gastrointestinal contrast studies or a smooth effacement of gastric mucosa overlying a submucosal mass (Schindler's sign³) on endoscopy. Although leiomyoma is classically a submucosal lesion, intraluminal or extramural growth has been noted.

Open celiotomy with gastric wedge resection, partial gastrectomy, enucleation, and extended gastrectomy with en bloc resection of adjacent organs are various methods of treatment for gastric leiomyoma before the use of laparoscopy. With the progression of laparoscopic surgery beyond laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic wedge resection has become the ideal treatment for gastric leiomyomas. Below, we describe a case of laparoscopic wedge resection and review the various laparoscopic techniques used to treat gastric leiomyoma.

CASE REPORT

A 60-year-old female presented to the emergency room with complaints of hematemesis. An upper endoscopy demonstrated a 2-cm lesion on the greater curvature of the stomach 6 cm from the gastroesophageal junction. Small ulcerations of this mass were noted but no active bleeding. The patient remained hemodynamically stable without any changes in her hematocrit. A contrast upper gastrointestinal series displayed a well-circumscribed mass in the region of the upper gastric body (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Digital spot film from an upper gastrointestinal examination demonstrating the gastric mass located in the proximal stomach. Small arrows outline a smooth mucosal surface. The short white arrows point to the classic “right angle deformity” indicating a submucosal location by radiographic criteria. The long white arrows show the bulging contour deformity on the external surface of the stomach.

Laparoscopic treatment of the neoplasm was offered. Intraoperatively, a small, white, smooth, well-encapsulated nodule was noted on the greater curvature lying among the short gastric vessels. The short gastric vessels were divided by using the Harmonic scalpel (UltraCision Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio) to completely free and visualize the mass (Figure 2). Intraoperative endoscopy was utilized for confirmation as well. A wedge resection of the mass with a rim of normal gastric tissue was performed with a laparoscopic stapling device (Figure 3). Pathology revealed a gastric leiomyoma with negative margins.

Figure 2.

Laparoscopic demonstration of the gastric leiomyoma.

Figure 3.

An endoscopic stapler was used to resect the gastric leiomyoma.

Postoperatively, the patient did well, was discharged the next day with oral pain medications, and was seen in the clinic in follow-up without any problems.

DISCUSSION

The first gastric stromal tumor was noted at autopsy in 1762,⁴ however, the first successful resection was performed over 100 years later. Gastric stromal tumors are divided into 3 groups based on malignant potential: leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, and leiomyoblastomas. The first case of laparoscopic gastric leiomyoma resection was reported in 1992.⁵ This leiomyoma was found incidentally during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Since then, various laparoscopic approaches to leiomyoma have been discussed. These methods have been applied to other benign gastric tumors (eg, submucosal gastric lipoma⁶) as well as leiomyosarcoma.⁷ Gastric resection without lymph node dissection in the treatment of malignant neoplasm (such as leiomyosarcoma) may be controversial although studies have demonstrated no benefit from the addition of systemic lymph node dissection or more extensive resection in the treatment of leiomyosarcoma.^8,9 These results are important when considering the laparoscopic technique for any gastric stromal tumor resection because often the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma versus leiomyoma may not be evident until after resection. In fact, biopsies from endoscopy yield the diagnosis in less than 60% of the time.^10,11 Although some authors feel that more extensive resections may be necessary for high-grade leiomyosarcoma,¹² others believe that a wedge resection is sufficient for leiomyosarcomas.^8,9

Four major laparoscopic methods have been described for the resection of gastric leiomyoma. The choice of technique should be based both on size and location of the lesion. For easily accessible anterior lesions, a simple wedge resection^12–14 is possible via an endostapling device although some have suggested the use of laparoscopic suturing as a more cost-effective method.¹⁵ We, like others, prefer the use of an endostapling device to reduce operative time as well as to avoid contamination from a gastrotomy.¹⁶ Simple wedge resection has also been described for the use of posterior lesions via access through the lesser sac.¹⁵ Because the lesion in our patient was on the greater curvature and easily accessible after dissection of the short gastric vessels, a wedge resection was the method we chose to use.

Lesions on the posterior wall, close to the gastroesophageal junction, or close to the pylorus may be difficult or impractical for a simple wedge resection. Also, resection of a tumor close to the gastroesophageal junction or the pylorus may cause significant postoperative stenosis. Thus, laparoscopic resection via an anterior gastrotomy has been described.^15,17–20 With this technique, an anterior gastrotomy is first performed; then, the mass is removed either with all layers of the posterior gastric wall or removed leaving the posterior gastric wall partially intact. Closure of the defect can be performed via the anterior gastrotomy via laparoscopic stapling or suturing techniques.

Another method described is the combined use of laparoscopic, endoscopic, and intragastric techniques for the resection.^21–23 This technique is ideal for lesions that are difficult to excise with a simple wedge resection. Utilizing this method, the abdomen is first entered and insufflated. Then, an endoscope is placed in the stomach that is also insufflated. An alternative method is to directly enter the stomach without intraabdominal insufflation.²³ Either laparoscopic or minilaparoscopic ports are placed intragastrically. The minilaparoscopic or needlescopic (2-mm) ports do not usually require closure, which offers a specific advantage over standard laparoscopic ports.^22,23 Resection of the leiomyoma leaving the serosa intact is performed with visualization via the endoscope. Some authors close the intragastric defect with intragastric suturing,²³ while others leave the defect open.²² The specimen can be removed transorally via endoscopy.

The final method is enucleation of gastric leiomyomas.²⁴ The seromuscular layers are dissected from the gastric mucosa to allow for enucleation of the leiomyoma. The utilization of this technique has significant drawbacks. Because preoperatively, the distinction between leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma is not always known, rupture of the tumor mass or incomplete resection would be inappropriate treatment. Thus, simple enucleation is not recommended for these lesions.^25,26

No matter which technique is used, intraoperative endoscopy is a useful adjunct especially when trying to localize small tumors. Frozen section should always be considered in order to (1) exclude other possible diagnoses and (2) to assure clear margins. Differentiating from high-grade and low-grade lesions by frozen section is not accurate however.

Laparoscopic surgery for gastric leiomyoma offers the usual advantages of the minimally invasive approach. Postoperative recovery is short as demonstrated by our case with a 1-day postoperative hospital stay. This shorter stay should translate into a reduction in pulmonary and infectious complications related to extended hospital stays. Another advantage is smaller incisions (better cosmesis) and thus subsequent decreased postoperative pain and narcotic requirement. Laparoscopic surgery for gastric leiomyoma offers a safe and effective approach compared with open laparotomy.