Rare Occurrence of a Pancreatic Schwannoma With Melanocytic Differentiation

A melanocytic schwannoma is a rare nerve sheath tumor characterized by Schwann cells producing melanin pigment, comprising less than 1% of nerve sheath tumors. Pancreatic schwannomas are very uncommon, with fewer than 100 reported in the literature. This case reports an 82-year-old woman who presented with abdominal and back pain and was found to have a mass in the pancreatic uncinate process. Biopsy confirmed a nerve sheath tumor with melanocytic differentiation. This case shows the rarity and diagnostic and management challenges of pancreatic melanocytic schwannomas. In addition, this case highlights the importance of obtaining biopsies of pancreatic neoplasms, even when imaging suggests they are benign.