Pseudoglandular schwannoma

The glandular schwannoma is a rare variant of schwannoma in which the focally occurring glands are lined by cells resembling intestinal or respiratory type epithelium, or ependyma. The schwannomas harboring these glands are usually malignant and usually arise in the setting of von Recklinghausen's disease. The case presented in this report is that of a 43-year-old man who had no evidence of neurofibromatosis, and developed a benign schwannoma that contained multiple well formed gland-like structures. The cells lining the glands, when examined ultrastructurally and histochemically, proved to be Schwann cells, a unique finding that may provide a clue to the histogenesis of the glandular schwannoma.