[A case of giant dumbbell shaped schwannoma with massive pleural effusion]

A 58-year-old female was admitted to the hospital complaining of dyspnea. The chest roentgenogram and CT scan revealed a large mediastinum tumor and massive pleural effusion in the right hemithorax. The diagnosis of lung cancer with carcinomatous pleulitis was performed through thoracocentesis an treatment of chemotherapy was chosen. After 6 years, she was admitted again to the hospital complaining of dull pain in the right leg. Chest CT scan and MRI showed a giant dumbbell shaped mass connected to the spinal canal. The tumor was larger than that of six years ago and diagnosed as schwannoma by CT-guided pericutaneous needle biopsy. At operation, hemilaminectomy of Th 1-3 was done first, and total tumor resection was performed through posterolateral thoracotomy. Intrathoracic adhesion was severe and it was difficult to control air leakage from the lung, thoracoplasty was performed.