A Case of Rectal Schwannoma

Abstract

A 76-year-old woman who had been admitted to another hospital for two months after fainting was detected to have a mass in her rectum during a computed tomographic scan, and she was referred to our hospital for further examination and treatment. A submucosal tumor of the rectum and enlarged lymph nodes were revealed by close exploration and rectal carcinoid combined with nodal metastases was suspected. She underwent low anterior resection of the rectum and D3 lymph node dissection. The pathological diagnosis was node-negative benign rectal schwannoma. Schwannoma is rare, especially in the large intestine. As it is very difficult to diagnose this disease preoperatively, tumor resection with lymph node dissection should be considered, if malignant schwannoma is suspected before operation.