Intrarenal cellular schwannoma

Abstract

Schwannomas are tumours arising from the nerve sheath. Renal schwannomas are extremely rare and have non-specific symptoms and limited radiological features. They are often diagnosed histologically after surgical excision. Cellular schwannoma is a rare variant of schwannoma, characterised by almost entirely Antoni A pattern growth and absence of verocay bodies. They may be confused with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours, angiomyolipoma, leiomyoma and mesoblastic nephroma of the adult type. Recognition and awareness of these rare, benign tumours will assist in the differential diagnosis of spindle cell tumours of the kidney. Predilection for the cellular variant to occur on this site may result in a misdiagnosis of the relatively more commonly occurring sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma. This is a case of cellular intrarenal schwannoma which was diagnosed by histopathology post-radical nephrectomy. Schwannomas are tumours arising from the nerve sheath. Renal schwannomas are extremely rare and have non-specific symptoms and limited radiological features. They are often diagnosed histologically after surgical excision. Cellular schwannoma is a rare variant of schwannoma, characterised by almost entirely Antoni A pattern growth and absence of verocay bodies. They may be confused with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours, angiomyolipoma, leiomyoma and mesoblastic nephroma of the adult type. Recognition and awareness of these rare, benign tumours will assist in the differential diagnosis of spindle cell tumours of the kidney. Predilection for the cellular variant to occur on this site may result in a misdiagnosis of the relatively more commonly occurring sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma. This is a case of cellular intrarenal schwannoma which was diagnosed by histopathology post-radical nephrectomy.