Schwannoma of the duodenum causing melena

Intern Med. 1994 Oct;33(10):621-3. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.33.621.

Abstract

A rare case of duodenal schwannoma is reported. A 69-year-old man was admitted for evaluation of melena. Endoscopy and hypotonic duodenography showed a submucosal tumor in the third part of the duodenum. Biopsy findings were suggestive of leiomyosarcoma, therefore pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the resected specimen showed interlacing bundles of spindle-shaped cells with palisading nuclei. Immunohistochemical staining showed positivity for S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase, but desmin was negative, thus a diagnosis of schwannoma was made. Schwannoma is often difficult to distinguish from leiomyogenic tumors by standard staining, but immunohistochemical staining proved useful in this case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Duodenal Neoplasms / complications*
  • Duodenal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Duodenal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Duodenum / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Leiomyosarcoma / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Melena / etiology*
  • Neurilemmoma / complications*
  • Neurilemmoma / diagnosis
  • Neurilemmoma / surgery