Giant cardiac schwannoma around the left atrium: a case report

A 57-year-old male presented with dyspnea and an enlarged cardiac silhouette on a chest X-ray. Further evaluation with contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a giant heterogeneous mediastinal mass, ~8.9 × 7.3 × 12.2 cm, with peripheral calcifications. Surgical resection was performed via a left thoracotomy approach using the left fifth intercostal space. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established through the femoral vessels for safer and more controlled resection. The tumor, contiguous with the left atrium, was successfully excised using two Endo GIA staplers. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. This case demonstrates that the left thoracotomy approach with cardiopulmonary bypass and the use of Endo GIA staplers is a feasible and effective option for resecting large, well-defined cardiac schwannomas.