Esophageal Schwannoma: A Rare Benign Esophageal Tumor

Abstract

Benign primary tumors are uncommon, with the majority of these tumors being leiomyomas; schwannomas of the esophagus are rare. Here, we present a case of a 78-year-old woman referred for complaints of intermittent dysphagia with a chest computed tomography scan showing a homogenous mass, compressing the esophagus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a submucosal mass, which was eventually diagnosed as a schwannoma after an endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration and subsequent pathologic and immunohistochemical examination. Schwannomas could be managed conservatively.

A Case of Esophageal Schwannoma and Review of the Literature

“…Scattered lymphocytes and nodular lymphatic sleeves scattered in tumors were generally considered the characteristic morphology of schwannoma in the digestive tract [ 3 ]. While esophageal schwannomas are benign tumors, they show a hypermetabolic appearance on 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET), similar to findings of malignant esophageal tumors [ 6 ]. PET was performed in two cases of esophageal schwannoma, and both of them showed fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation and mediastinal lymph node uptake.…”

Total removal of a large esophageal schwannoma by submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection: A case report and review of literature

“…Only one reported mass with a maximum diameter of 60 mm[ 12 ] was larger than our case; however, that case was managed by using thoracoscopy combined with endoscopic surgery rather than endoscopic surgery alone. In addition, there were other management methods, including robot-assisted resection of tumors with maximum diameters of 69 mm[ 13 ] and 65 mm[ 14 ] in two cases, and no further treatment measures were taken in the other two cases[ 9 , 15 ] after FNA puncture to obtain pathology.…”