Primary diaphragmatic schwannoma with a typical target appearance: correlation of CT and MR imagings and histologic findings

Laparoscopic resection of a primary diaphragmatic schwannoma: a case report and literature review

Background

Schwannomas are nerve sheath tumors that commonly originate from the stomach and small intestine. A primary schwannoma of the diaphragm is rare and does not show any symptoms until it grows to a certain size. Hence, it is extremely rare that it was found at a size that allowed resection under videoscopic surgery.

Case presentation

A 77-year-old woman was referred to our department for surgical treatment of a tumor located near the gastric fornix. She underwent a routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy 2 years and 7 months prior to the referral. It was suspected that she had a submucosal tumor measuring 10 mm, located in the fornix, and was then referred to her previous physician. During her follow-up, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) revealed that the cystic structure had continued to grow toward the gastric wall, and she was then referred to the endoscopy division of our hospital. She continued to be followed-up, and it was noted that the tumor was gradually increasing in size. Therefore, she requested surgical resection, and was finally referred to our division. Since the tumor was rather small, we planned a laparoscopic surgery. An initial examination during the operation revealed that the tumor was located on the left diaphragm. Since the tumor was relatively small and visibility was good, we decided to continue with the laparoscopic surgery. Partial diaphragmectomy with complete inclusion of the tumor was performed, and the defect of the diaphragm was directly closed by a running suture. Pathological examination revealed a benign schwannoma that had originated from the diaphragm. To support our findings, we also reviewed the scientific literature on diaphragmatic schwannoma cases reported up to April 2020.

Conclusions

In this extremely rare case, we successfully resected the diaphragmatic schwannoma using laparoscopic surgery.

The breadth of the diaphragm: updates in embryogenesis and role of imaging

The diaphragm is an unique skeletal muscle separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities with a primary function of enabling respiration. When abnormal, whether by congenital or acquired means, the consequences for patients can be severe. Abnormalities that affect the diaphragm are often first detected on chest radiographs as an alteration in position or shape. Cross-sectional imaging studies, primarily CT and occasionally MRI, can depict structural defects, intrinsic and adjacent pathology in greater detail. Fluoroscopy is the primary radiologic means of evaluating diaphragmatic motion, though MRI and ultrasound also are capable of this function. This review provides an update on diaphragm embryogenesis and discusses current imaging of various abnormalities, including the emerging role of three-dimensional printing in planning surgical repair of diaphragmatic derangements.

Benign diaphragmatic neurilemmoma mimicking a left adrenal cyst

Neurilemmomas are benign, slow growing, encapsulated nerve sheath tumor. These tumors arise from the schwann cells of neural crest. Neurilemmomas can manifest in various form according to site, extent and severity of involvement of organ. Diaphragmatic neurilemmomas are very unusual and even difficult to diagnose on preoperative imaging. We will report a case of 39 year old male, who presented with complaints of occasional left flank pain for one year and subsequently investigated, which showed left adrenal cyst with haemorrhagic fluid content. On the contrary, when surgical exploration of the lesion was done, it showed a cyst within the diaphragm, completely separated from left kidney and left adrenal with haemorrhagic content in situ. Histopathological examination of the lesion showed it to be a benign neurilemmoma with cystic degeneration. Post opearatively patient did well. We believe that this is the first case report, which is addressing such kind of initial manifestation of diaphragmatic neurilemmomas.

Schwannoma of the diaphragm--a pediatric case report and review of the literature

Diaphragmatic tumors are uncommon and difficult to diagnose in the pediatric population. Schwannoma is a benign, slow-growing peripheral nerve sheath tumor that is most commonly associated with the extremities in childhood. We herein report a schwannoma of the diaphragm in a pediatric patient and review the pediatric literature.

A rare primary diaphragmatic hemangioma successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery: report of a case

This report presents a very rare case of a primary diaphragmatic hemangioma, which was successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery. A 64-year-old man with a left diaphragmatic mass without any significant symptoms was treated by laparoscopic surgery and thus was diagnosed to have a diaphragmatic hemangioma following a pathological examination. Laparoscopic treatment in the deep and narrow abdominal spaces such as the diaphragmatic region is very useful as a less invasive treatment, as well as providing an excellent observation from which to make an accurate diagnosis.

Pedunculated malignant peripheral nerve-sheath tumour of the diaphragm presenting as recurrent lung infection: ultrasound diagnosis

We report a rare case of malignant peripheral nerve-sheath tumour of the diaphragm in a 12-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis presented clinically and radiographically as recurrent lung infection. Ultrasound revealed a pedunculated diaphragmatic tumour invading the posterior chest wall. This case highlights that this unusual tumour may limit diaphragmatic excursion leading to, and even being masked by, superimposed lung infection. In patients with neurofibromatosis, ultrasound is recommended when chest radiography shows a basal lung opacity.

[Diaphragmatic or juxtadiaphragmatic schwannoma?]

The authors report one case of schwannoma of diaphragmatic topography. This lesion is exceptional and, to our knowledge, only seven cases have been published in the literature. The first diagnosis was a suprarenal tumour. Magnetic resonance imaging provided more detail about the juxta diaphragmatic topography of the tumour, which was subsequently confirmed by surgery. The diagnosis of benign schwannoma was made at the pathological and immuno-histochemical examination of the specimen. The schwannoma corresponded to the type B of the classification of Antoni. Pathogeny and origin of the tumour are discussed. The sympathetic nervous para-vertebral system, the phrenic or intercostal nerves could be the origin of the tumour. In the eight cases reported, the tumoural removal was performed through thoracotomy (n = 5) or laparotomy (n = 3). The preoperative exact location of the juxta diaphragmatic tumours remains difficult to specify.