Cutaneous schwannoma: an atypical presentation

Cutaneous Ancient Schwannoma of the Ear

“…Verocay first described schwannomas in 1908. 3 They represent approximately 5% of all benign soft-tissue tumors and they are the most common peripheral nerve tumor. 4 Schwannomas occur most commonly during the fourth and fifth decade of life, without significant evidence of sex predilection.…”

“…4 Schwannomas occur most commonly during the fourth and fifth decade of life, without significant evidence of sex predilection. [3][4][5] In general, cutaneous schwannomas are asymptomatic. 5 However, as they grow larger, pain, paresthesias, and tenderness can occur, associated with the compression of the nerve of origin or adjacent structures.…”

“…5 The clinical diagnosis is challenging due to the non-specific presentation, becoming necessary to exclude other well-circumscribed skin masses such as lipoma, angiolipomas, leiomyomas, cysts, neurofibromas, and neuromas. 3 Histology is required to confirm the diagnosis. The tumor is typically well encapsulated by perineurium and is classically characterized by a biphasic pattern: areas of high cellularity (Antoni A) that alternate with loosely myxoid edematous areas (Antoni B) (Fig.…”

“…3). [1][2][3][4][5][6] In Antoni A areas, uniform spindle cells are clustered in stacks and arranged back to back, creating palisades of stacked nuclei between which the cell processes are fused into eosinophilic masses, called Verocay bodies (Fig. 3 A, B).…”

“…1,2 The most common sites are the head and neck and the flexor surfaces of the extremities. 3,4 Although they commonly occur as single lesions (90%), they can be associated with several central neurological tumors (usually meningiomas, 5%), neurofibromatosis type 2 (3%), or appear as multiple lesions (schwannomatosis, 2%). 3 Herein, we present a case of a solitary cutaneous ancient schwannoma of the ear, a histopathological variant of schwannoma with distinctive morphological characteristics.…”