Enrique Stoopen, MD, Leopoldo Castaneda, MD, Sofia Valanci, MD, Fernando Arias, MD, Alfonso Arias, MD
ABC Medical Center
Introduction:
Schwannomas are mostly benign tumors derived from the neural sheath in peripheral nerves, in the digestive tract they originate in Auerbach’s or Meissner’s plexus, the colon is the least likely site of occurrence.
They are asymptomatic most of the time, but can exhibit bowel movement disorders, pain, or palpable abdominal masses. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult due and information gained by studies is often limited.
Schwannomas are considered benign and therefore a correct pathologic diagnosis is critical. Treatment in tumors over 4 cm is considered surgical with complete excision because of high recurrence rate.
Clinical case:
An asymptomatic 79 year old woman with a history of polimiositis in control for 10 years had a PET scan that revealed a hypogastrium tumor with soft tissue density. She was taken to the operating room for a diagnostic laparoscopy, finding a tumor in the transverse colon which was resected in its totality and sent to pathology studies, it reported a colon schwannoma with tumor negative borders. The patient was discharged the next day when she tolerated oral intake, and has had a satisfactory evolution at one year postoperative.
Conclusion:
Since the exact biological behavior of these tumors in the large bowel is still not clear case to case treatment should be warranted, and laparoscopic resection is feasible and secure for a correct diagnosis and cure.
Session: Poster Presentation
Program Number: P090