Schwannoma of the cervical esophagus: Report of 2 cases and a review of the literature

Ear Nose Throat J. 2015 Sep;94(9):E10-3.

Abstract

Schwannomas of the cervical esophagus are extremely rare, as fewer than a dozen reports have been published in the literature. Therefore, their clinical characteristics and management have not been definitively elucidated. We report 2 cases of cervical esophageal schwannoma (CES) in which the patients-a 52-year-old woman and a 53-year-old woman-were initially misdiagnosed clinically. The correct diagnosis was later established on the basis of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and intraoperative frozen-section analysis. In both cases, the tumor was enucleated, and the esophagus was closed by primary intention. Both patients resumed an oral diet 2 weeks postoperatively. Follow-up detected no evidence of recurrence. Our review of the literature revealed that CES is a benign mesenchymal tumor that can be misdiagnosed both clinically and pathologically. Preoperative contrast-enhanced CT and intraoperative frozen-section analysis help in the planning for conservative enucleation, which precludes the need for esophageal resection and its associated morbidity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Esophagoscopy
  • Female
  • Frozen Sections
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurilemmoma / diagnosis*
  • Neurilemmoma / pathology
  • Neurilemmoma / surgery
  • Photomicrography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed