[A case of intrapulmonary schwannoma that should be distinguished from lung cancer]

A 32-year-old woman was referred to our division because of abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray film taken at an annual health survey. Chest X-ray films and chest CT scanning revealed a smooth-surface mass at the left hilus. A bronchoscopic examination revealed severe extraluminal compression in the left basal bronchus but no visible tumors. Surgical treatment was performed on the suspicion of lung cancer. Since the intraoperative frozen section examination revealed a benign tumor, the tumor mass was resected. Based on intraoperative and pathological findings, benign intrapulmonary schwannoma associated with the left basal bronchus was diagnosed. Only 15 cases of intrapulmonary schwannoma have been reported in Japan.