Benign retroperitoneal schwannoma presenting as colitis: a case report

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Neuropathology

Background:

• Retroperitoneal schwannomas are rare neural sheath tumors.
• They typically present asymptomatically but can cause symptoms by compressing adjacent structures.

Observation:

• A patient presented with clinical, radiological, and endoscopic findings consistent with colitis.
• The colitis was attributed to a compressive left para-aortic mass.

Findings:

• Surgical excision of the mass led to complete resolution of colitis.
• Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the mass as a benign retroperitoneal schwannoma.
• The NF2 gene, associated with schwannoma development, was excluded as a cause through mutation analysis.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare cause of colitis and demonstrates the efficacy of surgical intervention.
• Benign retroperitoneal schwannomas, though rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained colitis.
• Complete surgical excision offers a good prognosis, and genetic testing for NF2 may not be necessary for solitary lesions.