Mobile schwannoma of the lumbar spine: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Schwannoma is a benign tumor that originates from the cells of nerve sheaths. The occurrence of mobile schwannoma of the lumbar spine is extremely rare, and when clinicians perform spinal explorations in the expected locations, the results are often negative. This report presents a case of mobile schwannoma in the lumbar spine, aiming to remind doctors to consider the possibility of tumor migration during preoperative planning, thereby avoiding secondary harm to the patient. CASE REPORT: A 48-year-old male patient presented with a 2-year history of lower back pain and numbness in both lower extremities, which has progressively worsened over the past 3 months. An Magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an oval-shaped lesion located in the L2/3 vertebral segment, which migrated to the L3/4 vertebral segment following contrast enhancement. The patient underwent tumor resection surgery, and the diagnosis of schwannoma was confirmed through pathological examination. CONCLUSION: Clinical physicians should increase their understanding of mobile schwannoma of the lumbar spine and utilize imaging techniques to accurately locate the tumor before surgery, in order to avoid unnecessary surgical scope and the risks of additional surgery.