BENIGN tumor of the esophagus is a rare disease. In the University Clinics of the University of Chicago only 2 cases were found clinically from July 1936 to July 1947; in contrast to this figure, during the same period of time 246 cases of carcinoma of the esophagus were seen. The first case of benign tumor was found during an exploratory thoracotomy for diaphragmatic hernia and was reported by Schafer and Kittle in 1947. The second case was discovered during a routine physical examination, and it is herewith presented. REPORT OF CASE A white man, a university student aged 25, had no symptoms whatsoever referable to the esophageal tract or the chest except for rare heartburn after a large meal. In November 1946 he took a physical examination in the university's health office. A routine microfilm of the chest revealed a tumor in the upper mediastinal region. The patient was