A case of diffuse leiomyomatosis of the oesophagus is described. This condition is rare and has been confused with diffuse leiomyomata in the past. The aetiology is obscure.

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Summary One hundred resected cases of squamous cell carcinomas of the oesophagus were reviewed and a series of histological criteria related to the survival time. Two histological features were important in the assessment of survival. Good prognostic factors were a marked lymphocytic response to the tumour and a lack of intravenous tumour infiltration. Presence of tumour in the middle third of the oesophagus, infiltration through the muscularis propria, severe tumour necrosis, glandular or small cell tumour differentiation, lymphatic invasion and lack of peritumoural fibrosis were all factors which tended to worsen prognosis. None of these factors reached statistical significance. The degree of squamous differentiation had no effect on survival.Oesophageal carcinoma is one of the most lethal cancers in terms of cure rates and survival. Obstructive symptoms present late, there is lack of surgical access to many of these tumours and a further adverse factor is the involvement of adjacent vital organs.Most histological studies in oesophageal carcinoma have been performed on autopsy cases (Mandard et al., 1981;Sons & Borchard, 1986

Summary:Submucosal dissection of the oesophagus is a rare oesophageal disorder. We report a patient who had recurrent episodes of dissection and achalasia. Both recurrence and the association with achalasia are to our knowledge unique.

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