Rare Form of Schwannoma as a Purely Hemorrhagic Cystic Tumor Located in an Intermuscular Plane

ABSTRACT

Schwannomas are mostly solid tumors, some of which may contain cystic degenerations or hemorrhages. However, a schwannoma seen as a purely hemorrhagic cystic tumor is very rare. A 63-year-old woman was referred to the hospital due to a slow-growing mass (present for about 5 years) on her right thigh. She complained about vague pain but without neurologic symptoms such as numbness or tingling sensations. MR images showed an oval lesion with defined margins surrounded by the rectus femoris, vastus lateral, and the vastus intermedius. It was characterized as a multilocular cystic lesion composed of hemorrhagic fluid. In addition, the benign hemorrhagic cystic lesion was differentially diagnosed by radiological techniques as a hemorrhagic ganglion cyst. The lesion was surgically excised and, based on pathological features, was diagnosed as being a schwannoma. We report a purely hemorrhagic cystic schwannoma located in an intermuscular plane.