A Case of Subcutaneous Schwannoma of the Scalp

Abstract

Schwannomas are benign neural tumors derived from Schwann cells, which surround the peripheral nerves. Here, we present a case of subcutaneous schwannoma of the scalp, with the goal of increasing awareness of the differential diagnosis of scalp masses. A 45-year-old woman was admitted with a palpable scalp mass on the occiput initially noticed 2 years prior. Palpation revealed a 1.5-cm round subcutaneous mass, which was soft and exhibited a movable tendency. The lesion margin was well-circumscribed and contained under the skin. Computed tomography showed a 6 × 12-mm soft-tissue density subcutaneous nodule in the right paramedian occipital region. Thus, an epidermal cyst or lipoma was suspected. The pathological diagnosis (hematoxylin and eosin staining) revealed evidence indicating a subcutaneous schwannoma of the scalp. We report a subcutaneous schwannoma of the scalp, demonstrating that schwannomas can also occur as subcutaneous scalp lesions. Therefore, we suggest that although the treatment of subcutaneous schwannomas does not differ from other soft-tissue masses, a pathological examination should be performed to establish an exact diagnosis in such cases.