Ancient Schwanoma

Abstract

Ancient schwannoma is a distinctive type of schwannomas mainly diagnosed in the retroperitoneum and its presence in the posterior mediastinum is rare. The term “ancient” represents a group of neurogenic tumors which show degenerative changes with marked celular atypia. Objective. To describe a clinical case of a partient with an ancient schwannoma diagnosed and treated at the surgical department. Method. The patient of 74 years old complained of dyspnea from some months, was admitted where was donethe preoperatory study. The tomography showed a mediastinal tumor localized at the superior portion of the thorax and taking up both superior thoracic cavities. Presentation is justified by the rarity of these unfrequent disease occupying both thoracic superior cavities. Too presented significative calcification. Actual consulted literatura in PUBMED and Medline, although bibliography of the disease is not frequent fot the same fact of the rarity of these tumours. Results. Once finished the study, the tumour resection by videoasisted thoracoscopic surgery. There were not surgical accidents, bleeding was scant, and result satisfactory. Conclussions. This tumor is a distintive type of schwannoma presented with high frequence at the retroperitoneum, but posterior mediastinal presentation is rare. The term 'ancient' represents one group of neurogenic tumors with degenerative changes wih marked nuclear celular atypia. Posterior mediastinal presentation is rare and surgical resection is curative.