Bilateral benign endobronchial schwannomas

Dyspnea and wheezing: still a challenge for pulmonologists

Schwannoma is a neurogenic tumor originating from the nerve sheath Schwann cells. Intrathoracic location is rare, and the endobronchial location is exceptional. Schwannoma is a rare tumor; the majority of lesions are benign and usually asymptomatic. The authors present a case report of a 83-year-old woman, nonsmoker, observed in the emergency department for wheezing and cough lasting for 2 months. Chest tomography showed a right hilar pulmonary mass, ill defined, with thick and irregular walls, centered on the upper lobe bronchus, which was obliterated. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed a necrotic mass obstructing the right upper lobe bronchus whose biopsy allowed the diagnosis of benign schwannoma. Subsequently, the patient carried tumor ablation by laser bronchoscopy, with the resolution of the respiratory symptoms. This case stands out for its rarity but also because it is an excellent example of the importance of endoscopic techniques for therapeutic purposes. Schwannoma is a benign tumor in which surgical or endoscopic intervention generally prevents local recurrence and associated clinical manifestations.