Clinical and CT manifestation of pleural schwannoma.
BACKGROUND
A schwannoma arising from the pleura is rare. The computer tomography (CT) features, however, have seldom been disclosed in the English literature.


OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively assess the role of CT in the diagnosis of pleural schwannomas.


METHODS
Eleven patients with pathologically confirmed pleural schwannomas were included in the study. CT images and clinical data were analyzed. The CT features emphasized included the location of the neoplasm, as well as its diameter, origin, margin, shape, attenuation, enhancement pattern, and extent and invasion into adjacent structures, all of which were observed and recorded.


RESULTS
Seven patients were men, while four were women; patients were aged 21-60 years, with a mean age of 45 years. Most cases were incidentally detected. Seven cases involved neoplasms located in the right hemithorax whereas four cases involved neoplasms in the left hemithorax. The mean tumor diameter was 4.4 cm (range, 2.3-6.4 cm). All of the tumors were solitary and well-defined ovoid (n = 7) or round (n = 4) in shape. The schwannomas showed isoattenuation (four cases) or mild hypoattenuation (seven cases) to the chest wall muscle on unenhanced CT. All cases showed minimal enhancement on contrast-medium-enhanced CT. Two bony erosions of the rib were also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
CT findings may suggest the diagnosis of pleural schwannoma preoperatively. Pleural schwannoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of solid, solitary, and well-defined pleural tumors.
Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Renmin Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
Shudong
S
Hu
Yerong
Y
Chen
Yafei
Y
Wang
Ke Min
KM
Chen
Qi
Q
Song
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007472:Iohexol; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D015588:Observer Variation; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol