Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009; 57(7): 436-439
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1038984
Case Reports

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Schwannoma Mimicking Liver Tumor

Y.-C. Shih1 , Y.-L. Chen2 , H.-Y. Fang2 , C.-Y. Wu2 , Y.-C. Lin2 , Y.-M. Lin3
  • 1School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan – Republic of China
  • 2Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan – Republic of China
  • 3Department of Pathology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan – Republic of China
Further Information

Publication History

received April 7, 2008

Publication Date:
30 September 2009 (online)

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.

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Dr. Fang Hsin-Yuan, Master of Medical Science

Changhua Christian Hospital
Department of Surgery

No. 135 Nanhsiao St.

500 Changhua

Taiwan – Republic of China

Phone: + 88 6 47 23 85 95 76 33

Email: d93421104@ntu.edu.tw