Case Report
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2010; 16(1): 119-122
Published online Jan 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i1.119
Malignant schwannoma of the pancreas involving transversal colon treated with en-bloc resection
Miroslav P Stojanovic, Milan Radojkovic, Ljiljana M Jeremic, Aleksandar V Zlatic, Goran Z Stanojevic, Milan A Jovanovic, Milos S Kostov, Vuka P Katic
Miroslav P Stojanovic, Milan Radojkovic, Ljiljana M Jeremic, Aleksandar V Zlatic, Goran Z Stanojevic, Milan A Jovanovic, Milos S Kostov, Vuka P Katic, Department of Hepato-bilio-pancreatic, Surgical Clinic, Clinical Center Nis, Nis 18000, Serbia
Author contributions: Stojanovic MP, Jeremic LM and Zlatic AV contributed to the literature review; Radojkovic M assisted in reporting the case; Stanojevic GZ contributed to revising the manuscript; Jovanovic MA, Kostov MS and Katic VP drafted and edited the manuscript and contributed to its final revision and approval.
Correspondence to: Miroslav P Stojanovic, MD, PhD, Professor, Chief, Department of Hepato-bilio-pancreatic, Surgical Clinic, Clinical Center Nis, Nis 18000, Serbia. miskosparis@yahoo.com
Telephone: +381-18-560925 Fax: +381-18-560925
Received: September 28, 2009
Revised: November 4, 2009
Accepted: November 11, 2009
Published online: January 7, 2010
Abstract

Pancreatic schwannoma is a very uncommon tumor of the pancreas, with only 27 cases reported. Most pancreatic schwannomas are benign, with only four malignant tumors reported. We describe a case of giant malignant schwannoma of the pancreatic body and tail, which involved the transverse colon. The tumor was treated successfully with en bloc distal splenopancreatectomy and colon resection. This is believed to be the first reported radical operation for malignant schwannoma of the pancreatic body, with infiltration of the transverse colon, with excellent long-term results. The patient is alive and well 28 mo after the operation. The authors conclude that pancreatic schwannomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas, although the diagnosis can only be confirmed by microscopic examination. In the case of the benign tumors, local excision is adequate, but in the case of malignant schwannoma, oncological standards must be fulfilled.

Keywords: Pancreatic neoplasms; Schwannoma; Colonic neoplasms; Surgery