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. 2016 Mar;11(3):1719-1721.
doi: 10.3892/ol.2016.4148. Epub 2016 Jan 26.

A large schwannoma of the middle mediastinum: A case report and review of the literature

Wei Wang  1 , Ming Cui  2 , Hong Xi Ma  3 , Hong Zhang  1 , Zhen-Hua Zhang  1 , You-Bin Cui  1
Affiliations

A large schwannoma of the middle mediastinum: A case report and review of the literature

Wei Wang et al. Oncol Lett. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Schwannoma of the mediastinum is a rare and typically benign type of tumor. The present study describes the case of a 61-year-old woman who presented with a continuous cough and facial edema. Pre-operative chest radiography, enhanced computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional CT scans identified a well-circumscribed mass. The large cyst, measuring 6.5×6.1×5.0 cm, was located anterior to the trachea and posterior to the superior vena cava. The mass was observed to be in close proximity to the right pulmonary hilum and the superior vena cava was flattened due to the pressure on the right vagus nerve. Therefore, the encapsulated tumor was completely resected under thoracoscopy and was subsequently diagnosed as a benign schwannoma upon pathological examination. The respiratory tract symptoms and facial edema resolved immediately after the surgery, and no recurrence was observed during the 6-month follow-up period. At the time of writing, the patient remained alive. The present study records the rarely successful resection of a middle mediastinal tumor by video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Keywords: middle mediastinum; neurogenic tumor; schwannoma; thoracoscopy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Enhanced computed tomography scans of the 6.1×5.0 cm mass prior to surgery, with the abnormality marked by white arrows. (A) Venous and (B) arterial phase.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mass observed using video-assisted thoracic surgery.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Histological analysis of the resected mass. (A) Spindle cells arranged in fasicles in loose stroma (hematoxylin and eosin staining; magnification, ×200). (B) Strong immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein (brown) in the tumor cells (magnification, ×200).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Computed tomography showing no abnormalities on follow-up.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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