Published online May 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i17.5153
Revised: December 5, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: May 7, 2014
Processing time: 212 Days and 19.5 Hours
Plexiform neurofibroma (PN) of the digestive tract is very rare and usually part of the generalized syndrome of neurofibromatosis type 1 (von Recklinghausen disease). Solitary PN of the stomach is extremely rare and has not been reported in the literatures. Here we present a case of solitary PN of the stomach, which was not associated with von Recklinghausen disease. A 38-year-old male presented abdominal pain and distention for 7 d. The patient underwent endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract, which revealed a 3.5 cm protruding and cauliflower-shaped mass with a shallow 1 cm central ulcer in the greater curvature of the stomach. The lesion was removed by laparoscopic surgery. Histological examination demonstrated characteristic histological findings of spindle-shaped cells. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the tumor cells were positive for S-100 protein, but negative for CD34, KI-67, CD117, and actin. Based on histological findings, gastrointestinal stromal tumor could be excluded, and thus the case was confirmed as PN. We described the clinical features, physical examination, endoscopic findings, and histopathological examination of this case.
Core tip: Solitary plexiform neurofibroma (PN) is extremely rare. We report a case of solitary PN of the stomach in a 38-year-old male who underwent laparoscopic surgery. The case was not associated with von Recklinghausen disease, and the patient was in good condition 6 mo after surgery, with no tumor recurrence. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of isolated stomach PN undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Endoscopic treatment is technically feasible and may be considered as the procedure of choice for solitary PN treatment. A long-term follow-up endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract is greatly needed.