Primary cardiac schwannoma-a case report and literature review / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To report one case of primary cardiac schwannoma (PCS) with review of literature. Methods: One patient with primary malignant cardiac schwannoma (PMCS) was treated surgically in our hospital and relevant data of 18 cases were collected from international literature. Clinical features, diagnosis and surgical treatment of PCS were discussed. Results: 17 cases were PMCS and 2 cases were primary benign cardiac schwannoma (PBCS). Operation was performed in 11 cases. The locations of mass were both superior vena cava and right atrium in 2 cases, inferior vena cava and right atrium in 1, pulmonary vein and left atrium in 1, right atrium in 1, left atrium in 3, right ventricular outflow tract in 2, and intrapericardial in 1. The long-term results for resected PCS were excellent, but for PMCS were very poor. Conclusion: PCS is an extremely rare disease. The diagnosis dependents on clinical features, M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. It is concluded that most PBCS can be resected completely with good results. PMCS can not be resected completely either because of the extent spread and invasion or frequent distant metastasis. The prognosis is dismal and early cardiac transplantation probably offers the only hope for patients with PMCS.