Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Stromal Vascular Fraction-enriched Fat Grafting for the Treatment of Symptomatic End-neuromata
Published on: November 23, 2017
[Resection of a retroperitoneal schwannoma by a combined approach]
C Pollo1, A Richard, J De Preux
1Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital de Sion-Hérens-Conthey, Sion, Suisse. claudio.pollo@chuv.hospvd.ch
Background And Purpose:
We report a remarkable case of retroperitoneal schwannoma with significant spinal growth illustrating the effectiveness of a combined surgical approach.
Methods:
A 41-year-old man presented with a long history of back pain and unexplained weight loss. An abdominal mass was found in the right upper quadrant. The CT-scan revealed a partially cystic lesion located in the right psoas muscle. Spinal extension was noticed through the L1-L2 neural foramen. MRI better showed the wide rostro-caudal extension in the spinal canal.
Results:
Bilateral L1 and L2 laminectomy was performed to remove the spinal portion of the tumor. It was extradural but attached to the dura. The roots were not infiltrated. The retroperitoneal mass was removed by an anterior transperitoneal approach. The histological examination did not reveal criteria of malignancy.
Conclusions:
Retroperitoneal schwannomas are rare and their preoperative diagnosis remains difficult. In case of significant spinal growth, a combined surgical exposure should be preferred to allow total removal of the lesion and control of the neurological structures.
