Laparoscopic resection of an adrenal schwannoma

• Published in: Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 663 - 667
• Main Authors: Toutouzas, Konstantinos G, Konstantinos, Toutouzas G, Tsamis, Dimitrios, Dimitrios, Tsamis, Kekis, Panagiotis B, Panagiotis, Kekis B, Michalopoulos, Nikolaos V, Nikolaos, Michalopoulos V, Flessas, Ionnis, Ioannis, Flessas, Manouras, Andreas, Andreas, Manouras, Zografos, Georgios, Geogrios, Zografos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - diagnosis; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - surgery; Adrenal Glands - diagnostic imaging; Adrenal Glands - surgery; Adrenalectomy - methods; Aged; Case Reports; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Laparoscopy - methods; Neurilemmoma - diagnosis; Neurilemmoma - surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 1086-8089; 1938-3797
• DOI: 10.4293/108680812X13517013316753

Schwannomas are tumors originating from Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve sheath (neurilemma) of the neuroectoderm. Rarely, schwannomas can arise from the retroperitoneum and adrenal medulla. We describe a case of a 71-y-old woman who presented with an incidentally discovered adrenal tumor. Ultrasound and computed tomography scans revealed a lesion with solid and cystic areas originating from the left adrenal gland. The patient underwent complete laparoscopic resection of the tumor and the left adrenal gland. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining of the excised specimen revealed a benign schwannoma measuring 5.5×5 3.7 cm. To our knowledge, few other cases of laparoscopic resection of adrenal schwannomas have been reported. Because preoperative diagnosis of adrenal tumors is inconclusive, complete laparoscopic excision allows for definitive diagnosis with histological evaluation and represents the treatment of choice.