Gastric Leiomyoma Near the Gastroesophageal Junction Causing Massive Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Abstract

Leiomyomas are rare, slow-growing submucosal tumors originating from smooth muscle cells. They are typically benign when found in the gastrointestinal tract, and they present no risk for recurrence or metastasis. In this report, we describe the case of a 64-year-old female patient presenting with severe anemia, generalized fatigue, and intermittent dark tarry stools and who was found to have a bleeding gastric cardia mass one centimeter distal to the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) on abdominal computed tomography and confirmed with an esophagoduodenoscopy. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic wedge resection of the stomach with partial resection of the gastrohepatic ligament was performed to resect the mass. Histopathological examination revealed positivity for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and H caldesmon, consistent with a leiomyoma. In this report, we discuss this patient's clinical presentation, the method of mass resection, the importance of mass location in choosing a surgical approach for resection, and differential diagnoses for this case.