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Case Reports
. 2014 May-Jun;99(3):196-9.
doi: 10.9738/INTSURG-D-13-00145.1.

A rare case of anterior chest wall schwannoma masquerading as a breast tumor

Takaaki Fujii  1 , Reina Yajima, Hiroki Morita, Soichi Tsutsumi, Takayuki Asao, Hiroyuki Kuwano
Affiliations
Case Reports

A rare case of anterior chest wall schwannoma masquerading as a breast tumor

Takaaki Fujii et al. Int Surg. 2014 May-Jun.

Abstract

A schwannoma is a tumor that develops on peripheral nerves or spinal roots. Although any part of the body can be affected, the breast is a quite unusual site for schwannomas. We report herein a case of schwannoma presenting as a breast tumor. In the current case, the tumor showed both clinically and mammographically as a well-defined breast mass. Of interest, sonographically, the well-defined mass appeared to be located in subcutaneous tissue, not in breast parenchyma, and this finding was confirmed histopathologically. These findings indicate the possibility that a schwannoma arising from subcutaneous breast tissue can show exophytic growth to the breast and appear as a breast tumor. In other words, our case implies the possible presence of a "pseudo" breast schwannoma.

Keywords: Breast; Breast cancer; Schwannoma.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) Mammography (craniocaudal/CC) revealed a well-defined, oval-shaped, and equally dense nodule without microcalcification, and the mass was increased in size. (b) The mass as seen on the previous year's mammogram.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Sonography revealed an oval-shaped, well-demarcated, hypoechoic solid mass at the left upper external breast quadrant in subcutaneous tissue abutting the skin.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The histologic evaluation revealed (a) an encapsulated mass composed of spindle-shaped cells with pointed basophilic nuclei (H&E; ×100) and (b) with nuclear palisading arranged in interlacing bundles known as Verocay bodies, corresponding to Antoni A pattern (H&E; ×200).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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