[A case of intrathoracic multiple schwannoma]

A case of intrathoracic multiple schwannoma originating in the left sympathetic nerve was reported. A 38-year-old male was admitted to our department for re-evaluation of his nephrotic syndrome, the chest X-ray revealed an abnormal shadow. A chest tomogram and a chest computed tomogram revealed multiple masses along the left 10th thoracic vertebra. The operation was done on September 4, 1989 under the diagnosis of posterior mediastinal tumor. At thoracotomy, four tumors were seen along the 10th thoracic vertebra and the sympathetic nerve was ascertained to be connected. Histologically, the tumors were composed of spindle cells arranged in scattered palisading fashion, and diagnosed as schwannoma. Multiple schwannomas are very rare. There have been only 12 cases of intrathoracic multiple schwannoma in Japan. Available Japanese literature on the subject was reviewed and discussed.