Laparoscopic resection of gastric schwannoma: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Gastric schwannomas are an extremely rare presentation of mesenchymal tumors originating from Schwann cells, accounting for 0.2% of all gastric tumors. Patients are usually asymptomatic, so these tumors are frequently detected incidentally. PRESENTATION OF CASE: 68-year old male patient found to have a 5 cm mass in the lesser curvature of the stomach. After a careful preoperative evaluation, complete laparoscopic resection was performed. Pathology review confirmed a completely resected gastric Schwannoma. The patient’s recovery was uneventful. At a one-year follow-up he remains asymptomatic and with no evidence of disease. DISCUSSION: We present the uncommon case of a gastric schwannoma that was appropriately treated with a laparoscopic approach and present a current literature review focusing on diagnostic and treatment methods of these rare tumors. CONCLUSION: Schwannomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of gastric tumors and can be appropriately treated with a laparoscopic approach.