Appendicular schwannoma: Case report of a rare differential of a right iliac fossa mass

Abstract

Schwannomas are slow growing, mostly benign tumors arising from the Schwann cells of the nerve sheath. They usually arise from the nerves of the head-and-neck region. They are rare in the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach is the most common site for gastrointestinal schwannomas. Appendicular schwannomas are even a rarer entity that may present as a right iliac fossa mass. The final diagnosis is by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Treatment is essentially surgical. Such entities may present as diagnostic dilemmas presenting as the not-so-common cause of iliac fossa mass and hence deserve reporting and discussion. We report our experience of treating a case of appendicular schwannoma in a 70-year-old lady with a short discussion on its characteristics and management.