Content area
Full text
KEY WORDS
schwannoma * seminal vesicle * transvesical excision
ABSTRACT
We present a rare case of a schwannoma of the seminal vesicle that occurred in a 43-year-old male with symptoms of the lower urinary tract. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging documented a solid mass in the patient's left seminal vesicle. A transvesical approach with a transtrigonal midline incision was successfully performed. The microscopic aspect was compatible with schwannoma.
INTRODUCTION
Tumors of the seminal vesicle are extremely rare and most often are incidentally found [1].
Schwannoma, also known as neurilemmoma, is a slow-growing, benign tumor of the peripheral nerve sheath that is composed of Schwann cells. It is usually found in the head, neck, mediastinum, and retroperitoneum. Most of these tumors are silent and only become symptomatic with compression of the nearby structures, including nerves [2].
This tumor usually appears from the 3rd to 6th decade of life and may require surgical removal. The recurrence rate for Schwannoma is 30-40%, especially when they are in intracranial, spinal, or sacral regions and surgical excision is incomplete; however, malignant progression is rare [3].
Schwann cell tumor is caused either by mutation of the gene NF2 or by deletion of 22q chromosome. Mostly cases of schwannoma are sporadic, but 10% are associated with genetic diseases such as type-2 neurofibromatosis and Schwannomatosis,. These genetic diseases have an incidence of 1 : 40,000 - 80,000 [3].
CASE REPORT
A 43-year-old man with a past history (from 1-year ago) of two schwannomas excised from the muscles of the right leg and left thigh and no familial history for this type of neoplasms, presented with lower urinary tract symptoms. Digital rectal examination presented no abnormal findings. PSA was 0.85 ng/ml...