Juxta-adrenal malignant schwannoma with lymph node metastases

Abstract

Juxta-adrenal malignant schwannoma is a very rare tumour of neural crest cell origin. A 69-year-old woman visited for proper management of incidentally detected adrenal mass as part of a dyspepsia workup. Metabolic evaluation was unremarkable and imaging results suggested a malignant adrenal mass with lymphnode metastases. The patient underwent a left adrenalectomy with para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The diagnosis and its origin was confirmed by histologic and immunohistochemical studies. We report the first case of juxta-adrenal malignant schwannoma with lymph node metastases, and review the literature on this rare tumour.