Thoracic dumbbell giant schwannoma in a young woman: A case report

Abstract

Schwannomas, which are benign, are one of the most common intraspinal tumors, accounting for 29% of primary spinal tumors. Schwannomas have several other names, including neurinoma, neurilemmoma, and neuroma. They originate from Schwann cells, which were first described by Theodor Schwann, a German physiologist, biologist, and histologist. Here, we present a patient with a giant, thoracic, dumbbell-shaped schwannoma. This benign tumor protruded into the subcutaneous fascial layer, compressing the pleura and the left side of the thoracic spinal cord. Additionally, some of the spinous processes and laminae of the thoracic vertebrae were missing. Most patients with this type of tumor are asymptomatic; however, up to 11.7% of patients have symptoms that depend on the size and location of the tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging can accurately determine the extent of the tumor and any intraspinal component and is thus helpful in selecting the optimal surgical procedure.