Rare case of cystic schwannoma presenting as right upper lobe lung cyst

ABSTRACT

Background: Schwannomaare benign tumors arising from Schwann cells of nerve root sheaths. Schwannomasare mostly solid / heterogeneous solid tumours, rarely cystic. Presentation of cystic schwannomainthorax is extremely rare. Case Study A 62-year-old female came to our hospital withthe complaint of right sided chest pain for 2 months, which is dull, non-radiating. She had history of fever 4 months back, diagnosed to have covid and took treatment at home. Chest x-ray showed a homogenous opacity in the right upper lobe extending up to 1stintercostal space. Ct reported well-defined thick-walled cyst, hypodensewith central low attenuation, forming acute angles with lung parenchyma in apical segments of right upper lobe towards mediastinum. Mild perilesional atelectasis is seen.On contrast, cyst is non enhancing. Patient is evaluated for the possibilities of Foregut duplication cyst, Hydatidcyst, Neoplasm. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a 5cms×5cms cyst, which is not communicating, infiltrating to esophagus. Patient was referred to ctvswhere excision of cyst is done by right thoracotomy .A 6cms×6cms×2cms unilocularcyst with wall thickness ranging from 0.1- 0.4cms. Its outer surface is congested, inner surface showed dark-brown hemorrhagic contents. Histopathological examination revealed cystic schwannoma. Discussion: Schwannomasare mostly benign in nature .Treatment includes excision of Bronchogenic cyst, Brachial cyst, neurogenic tumours, apical lung tumour, hydatid cyst, foregut duplication cyst are to be considered as differential diagnosis. It is important to consider cystic schwannomasin the differential diagnosis of thoracic cystsince the best surgical outcome is strongly related to earlier diagnosis and total resection of the lesion.