Cervical intranodal schwannoma – a rare diagnosis

Abstract

Intranodal schwannoma is a rare benign tumor, which originates from the peripheral nerve sheath (Schwann cells), fewer cases being reported with lymphatic involvement. We present the case of a middle-aged female patient, with one-year growing mass in the lateral-cervical area, in intimate relation with the vascular package of the neck. Preoperative cervical computed tomography examination showed the tumor features. There was no intraoperative complication, with the piece being completely removed. The morphological examination revealed the structure of a lymph node, and after Hematoxylin-Eosin staining, there were eosinophilic cytoplasm, euchromatic nuclei, with round, elongated or slightly wavy form and reduced pleomorphism, rare degenerative nuclear atypia, and no mitotic activity nor necrosis. The expression of S100 protein on immunohistochemistry, along with negative results for smooth muscle actin and desmin sustained the diagnosis of intranodal schwannoma of the neck. With a low index of cellular proliferation (Ki67), this case is in line with the reported features of schwannoma having extremely rare malignant transformation.