Cellular Schwannoma of the Cervical Spine in an Infant: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Cellular schwannoma is a very rare benign tumor involving peripheral nerves, mimicking malignant nerve sheath tumor in histological appearance. It is a clinico-pathological variant of benign schwannoma characterized by a high cellularity, increased mitotic figures and occasional presence of bone destruction. A 6-month-old female patient was admitted with progressive quadriparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed a well-enhancing extramedullary mass on the C4 to C6 area. Total laminectomy was performed on C4-7, and intradural extramedullary tumor was removed. Histologically, the tumor was composed of proliferated spindle cells. Most of the tumor was composed of Antoni A area with hypercellular spindle cells arranged in fascicular pattern. The tumor cells showed mild atypism with mitotic figure upto 4/10HPF and diffuse, strong S-100 protein immunostaining. The patient was improved postoperatively.