[Benign tumors of the stomach of neurogenic origin]

The benign tumours of the stomach are statistically 1-4% of gastric tumours. Progress in diagnostic is in relation with new immuno-histochemical methods and modern radiologic and endoscopic studies. The histopathologic findings are very important for differential diagnosis with benign gastric tumours of mesenchymal origin, specially leiomyomas. Areas of malignant degeneration are sometimes localized in benign gastric tumours of nervous origin. Only in these situations is necessary mayor radical surgery, as gastro-duodenal resection or a total gastrectomy. The authors, in a personal case series of 30 benign gastric tumours, illustrated 5 cases of benign tumours of nervous origin of the stomach. The histologic findings of these cases, all treated with surgical excision, are: one malignant neurinoma, two neurofibromas and two benign schwannomas. In the case of malignant neurinoma has been necessary reinterventions for recurrence. In spite of surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment the patient died for abdominal and hepatic metastasis.