Bronchial Schwannomas: Clinicopathologic Analysis of 7 Cases

BACKGROUND: It has long been recognized that bronchial schwannomas are extremely rare. As such, diagnosing tumors in this extraordinary location can sometimes be problematic. METHODS: We reviewed seven cases of bronchoscopically or surgically resected endobronchial schwannomas and evaluated their clinical and pathologic features. RESULTS: The present study included five female and two male patients, with ages ranging from 16 to 81 years (mean age, 44.9 years). The clinical presentation varied according to tumor size and location. Patients with more centrally (trachea or main bronchus) located tumors experienced respiratory symptoms (80%) more often than patients with more peripherally (lobar or segmental bronchus) located tumors (0%). Histologically, the tumors were composed of spindle cells that stained with S100 protein. Some of the tumors showed typical Antoni A areas with Verocay body formation. Five of six patients (83.3%) underwent complete tumor removal by rigid bronchoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Pathologists should consider endobronchial schwannoma in the differential diagnosis of a spindle cell tumor involving the bronchus. Additionally, our results showed that rigid bronchoscopy is an effective tool for tumor removal in endobronchial schwannoma patients.