Thoracic neurilemoma

Abstract

Neurilemomas are a rare type of tumor, even less frequent in the thorax. They originate in the Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves. They are slow growing, have a small symptomatology and detection usually occurs as an incidental radiological finding. This study presents the case of a 50-year-old white, male patient who presented to the Emergency Department complaining of a slight pain in the right lumbar region. A renal lithiasis, due to a personal history, was suspected. Investigations were performed including ultrasound as well as simple and IV-contrast-enhanced axial computed tomography. A thorax-located neurogenic tumor of the upper mediastinum was diagnosed. The patient underwent transthoracic puncture guided with a CT scan that finally determined the benignancy of the lesion and confirmed the diagnosis of neurilemoma. Surgical resection was performed by means of left posterolateral thoracotomy.

Keywords

• neurilemmoma
• schwann cells
• nerve sheath neoplasms