BackgroundScrotal schwannoma is a rare neoplasm and poses a diagnostic challenge to urologists. This article describes a rare case of ancient scrotal schwannoma and reviews the current modality of investigation and treatment of this tumour.Case reportA 28 year old man presented with a 3-month history of an asymptomatic scrotal swelling. Ultrasonography and computer topography revealed an intra-scrotal and extra-testicular mass without local invasion. Surgical excision was undertaken and histology was an ancient schwannoma of the scrotum.ConclusionSchwannoma is a benign encapsulating neoplasm with an overall low incidence, occurring mostly in the head and neck region and seldom in the scrotum. Histology shows two distinctive patterns, Antoni type A and B areas. Variations of schwannoma such as cellular, ancient, glandular and epithelioid are observed based on the appearances. Ancient schwannoma exhibits pleomorphism without mitosis as the result of cellular degeneration, which can lead to an erroneous diagnosis of malignancy. Imaging modalities are non-specific for schwannomas, but can define tumour size, site and extension. The mainstay treatment is complete excision, although local recurrence may occur in large and incompletely excised lesions. Malignant change is exceedingly rare.
Malignant histiocytosis is a rare invasive proliferation of neoplastic histiocytes. Cases previously reported as malignant histiocytosis were shown to be lymphomas of T or B lineage, especially anaplastic large-cell lymphomas. A case of malignant histiocytosis is described, in which a patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of pneumonia suddenly deteriorated and died. At autopsy, a large quantity of fresh blood, originating from several ruptured nodules on the enlarged spleen, was seen in the peritoneal cavity. Extensive infiltration by pleomorphic tumour cells and erythrophagocytosis by tumour cells were seen on histological examination of the spleen. Immunohistochemical analysis and staining were carried out. This is the second reported case of malignant histiocytosis presenting with spontaneous splenic rupture.
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