Malignant epithelioid ovarian schwannoma: a case report

There are only a few cases reported in the literature about schwannoma originating from the ovary. The patient was registered to the hospital due to a painless solid tumor in her left axillary region. Histologic examination of the excised tumor showed reticulum cell sarcoma. Two years later, oophorectomy was performed due to a unilateral ovarian tumor. The results of the histologic examination with different staining were particularly the same as those found in the axillary tumor, finally diagnosed as a malignant epithelioid schwannoma of the ovary. Our case report may be of interest for three reasons: 1) malignant schwannoma of the ovary is a very rare tumor, 2) the epithelioid type of the tumor may cause a differential diagnostic problem, and 3) clinical appearance of the metastasis was quite unusual, also resulting in difficulties in the appropriate diagnosis.