Retroperitoneal schwannomas: diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
OBJECTIVE
Schwannomas are a rare group of soft-tissue tumors that are derived from the peripheral nerve sheath and rarely develop in the retroperitoneum.


METHODS
We reviewed the clinicopathological features of 4 patients referred to our unit between October 1999 and March 2004 who on radiological examination were diagnosed with pancreatic, adrenal, psoas and retroperitoneal fat tissue tumors and subsequently underwent surgical treatment.


RESULTS
The preoperative diagnosis was incorrect in all cases. At time of surgery, we found a mass probably arising from the adrenal gland in 2 patients, a lesion originating from the femoral nerve in 1 patient, and a retroperitoneal mass without a clear site of origin in 1 patient. Pathological evaluation revealed schwannomas in all cases, with no signs of malignancy. Complete surgical excision was performed in all patients without any major postoperative complications. At the time of writing all patients are alive with no evidence of local or distant recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Radical surgical excision is considered the best treatment for these neoplasms, resulting in a very good longterm prognosis.
Digestive Surgery Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy. fpacelli@rm.unicatt.it
Antonio Pio
AP
Tortorelli
Fausto
F
Rosa
Valerio
V
Papa
Fabio
F
Rotondi
Alejandro Martin
AM
Sanchez
Maurizio
M
Bossola
Fabio
F
Pacelli
Giovanni Battista
GB
Doglietto
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005267:Femoral Nerve; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins