An operative case of schwannoma arising in the brachial plexus (C8, T1)

Abstract

A case of benign schwannoma arising in the brachial plexus with intrathoracic extension is presented. Intrathoracic growth of schwannoma of the brachial plexus has been reported in only 13 cases in the literature. The patient was a 25-year-old woman who was pointed out to have an abnormal shadow at the right pulmonary apex on routine chest X-ray examination. CT and MRI showed that the tumor extended to the lowest trunk of the brachial plexus. We selected a transmanubrial approach (TMA) and resected the tumor by enucleation, since it was confirmed to be a benign schwannoma at biopsy. We performed the operation without major postoperative neurological disturbance.