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Posterior mediastinal schwannoma

Case contributed by Paul Leong
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Hx of previous gestational trophoblastic disease

Patient Data

Age: 50
Gender: Female
x-ray

There is an opacity in the left posterior mediastinum. There is associated widening of the 4th intercostal space posteriorly, with scalloping of the inferior margin of the 4th rib. There is also some coarse calcification within the lesion.  

There is a soft tissue density lesion within the left posterior mediastinum, in a paravertebral location. The lesion is closely related to the left neural exit foramen, but there is no definite extension into the spinal canal. The lesion does extend into the intercostal space. There is associated bony remodeling, with no bone erosion or destruction.

 

Left T4/5 paraspinal mass, which demonstrates heterogenous T2 high signal, small internal low signal foci (calcification) and areas of necrosis. 

There is associated bony remodeling, in keeping with a non-aggressive lesion.

Case Discussion

Imaging appearances were suggestive of a neurogenic tumor. This was confirmed on histopathology (obtained via VATS). 

Histopathology: Sections show a well-circumscribed, partly encapsulated, paucicellular tumor containing thick walled hyalinised vessels, areas of hemorrhage and dystrophic calcification. Tumor cells show mild nuclear atypia with focal Verocay body formation. Tumor cells stain S-100 positive, whilst they are negative for Neu-N, NFP and CD34. Histological and immunohistochemical features are those of an ancient schwannoma

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