Two Cases of Benign Solitary Schwannoma with Pleural Effusion

Abstract

Schwannoma represents approximately 40% of neurogenic tumors arising in the mediastinum, and develops along the sympathetic or parasympathetic chain, intercostals nerve, and spinal ganglia. It is usually asymptomatic, and is confronted accidentally but can produce chest pain, cough and dyspnea. However, dyspnea with pleural effusion is rare in patients with benign schwannoma. We encountered two cases of benign schwannoma with pleural effusion. Both cases had similar initial symptoms and the characteristics of a mass but the characteristics of pleural effusion analysis were different. The benign schwannoma was confirmed in two cases using VATS (video-assisted tharawswpic surgery). (Tuberc Respir Dis 2007; 63: 78-82)

Retrospective analysis of ten mediastinum schwannomas cases

“…Kitle, genellikle hastanın başka nedenlerle istenen toraks grafileri ya da BT'de rastlantısal olarak tespit edilmektedir (13) . Ender olarak mediastinel benign schwannomlar kardiak tamponad ve plevral efüzyon gibi ciddi sorunlara neden olabilmektedir (14)(15)(16)(17) . Olgularımızda en sık görülen semptom sırası ile öksürük ve göğüs ağrı-sı iken, yalnızca bir olgu asemptomatikti.…”

A Case of Giant, Benign Schwannoma Associated with Total Lung Collapse by Bloody Effusion

“…Mediastinal benign schwannomas are most often asymptomatic. However, sometimes mediastinal benign schwannomas can cause severe problems such as cardiac tamponade7 or pleural effusion8,9, though bloody pleural effusion is usually associated with malignant schwannoma2,10. It is noteworthy that massive and bloody pleural effusion was associated with benign schwannoma in this case.…”