title: Bowel mesentery (meso-appendix) microcystic/reticular schwannoma: case report and literature review.
abstract: Microcystic/reticular schwannoma is a recently described variant of schwannoma with a predilection for the gastrointestinal tract. Due to overlapping features with other tumors, unawareness of this tumor type may lead to diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls. We here report a case of microcystic/reticular schwannoma arising in the meso-appendix of a 43-year-old woman. The tumor was incidentally discovered by computed tomography scan for unrelated reasons. A laparoscopic operation was performed shortly after admission. Histological examination revealed a circumscribed tumor with a striking microcystic and cribriform architecture. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were diffusely positive for S100 protein, glial fibrillary acid protein and protein gene product 9.5, which were consistent with a peripheral nerve sheath tumor. The patient remains well with no signs of recurrence at a 10-mo follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first case of microcystic/reticular schwannoma arising in the meso-appendix. Albeit very rare, microcystic/reticular schwannoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of appendiceal tumors.
authors.affiliation: Shao-Xian Tang, Jian Wang, Department of Pathology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Xian
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Shao-Xian Tang, Jian Wang, Department of Pathology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Shao-Xian Tang, Jian Wang, Department of Pathology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Shao-Xian Tang, Jian Wang, Department of Pathology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001063:Appendiceal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D033162:Incidental Findings; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Appendiceal neoplasms; Differential diagnosis; Gastrointestinal tract; Immunohistochemistry; Laparoscopy; Schwannoma