Schwannoma Mimicking Liver Tumor

Abstract

Thoracic neurogenic tumors typically originate from the posterior mediastinum and the intercostal nerves. No report of a chest wall schwannoma extending toward the subphrenic areas and making a significant indentation into liver parenchyma exists to date. We present a liver tumor-mimicking schwannoma of the intercostal nerves. A 58-year-old woman presented with a painful lesion in the right subphrenic area and abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant for two months. Abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor, 9.1 × 7.1 × 8.9 cm in size, with an inner cystic change in segment V and VI of the liver. The tumor was completely resected together with part of the 9th rib. Pathology confirmed a schwannoma and showed a tumor composed of spindle cells with oval to wavy nuclei. The patient was still asymptomatic at follow-up after 36 months, with no sign of recurrence.

Key words

Thoracic surgery - chest wall tumor - schwannoma

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