Published online Feb 16, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i5.1667
Peer-review started: August 26, 2021
First decision: October 22, 2021
Revised: October 31, 2021
Accepted: December 31, 2021
Article in press: December 31, 2021
Published online: February 16, 2022
Processing time: 168 Days and 17.4 Hours
Gastric origin tumors were diagnosed and evaluated preoperatively by gastroscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging. Currently, transabdominal high-resolution ultrasound combined with gastrointestinal contrast agent can be used to diagnose stomach tumors effectively and without invasive procedures or radiation. However, although an appreciable number of cases of gastric schwannoma (GS) have been reported since the first description of such in 1988, the ongoing lack of a comprehensive list of ultrasonic characteristics has limited the accuracy of preoperative ultrasound diagnosis.
A 64-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with dizziness and head discomfort. During an abdominal ultrasound, a hypoechoic gastric mass was found, having clear and regular boundaries and no observable blood flow. Based on these characteristics, a gastrointestinal stromal tumor was suspected. Results from an endoscopic ultrasound biopsy and accompanying immunohistochemical analysis, coupled with abdominal CT findings indicating lymph node enlargement around the stomach, led to diagnosis of GS but did not exclude malignancy. After surgical resection of the tumor, the final diagnosis of GS without lymph node metastasis was made. No recurrence has occurred in the 6 years of follow-up.
A clearly defined ultrasonic characteristic profile of GS is important to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Core Tip: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumor. Since the concept of gastric schwannoma (GS) was proposed in 1988, the incidence of cases has amassed. Transabdominal high-resolution ultrasound combined with abdominal gastrointestinal contrast agent has a unique advantage in gastrointestinal disease diagnosis as it can effectively diagnose tumors non-invasively without radiation. Although ultrasonographic characteristics of GIST have been reported, the literature lacks series of cases of GS and a clear summary of the ultrasonographic characteristics. A summarized ultrasonographic characteristic profile of GS will improve accuracy of differential diagnosis from to other types of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumor.