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Solitary malignant schwannoma of the pancreas: Report of a case and ultrastructural examination
Author(s) -
Eggermont Alexander,
Vuzevski Vojislav,
Huisman Margriet,
De Jong Koert,
Jeekel Johannes
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930360106
Subject(s) - medicine , basal lamina , pancreas , pathology , schwannoma , ultrastructure , abdomen , neoplasm , physical examination , anatomy , radiology
Primary malignant schwannoma of the pancreas is rare. The reported patient, a 40‐year‐old white female, presented with obstructive jaundice and a large palpable mass in the upper abdomen. A Whipple procedure was performed. Electron microscopic examination of the tumor established the Schwann cell origin of the neoplasm by demonstrating basement membranes, junctional complexes, and interdigitating cytoplasmic extensions infested with basal lamina, dense neurosecretory‐like granules, and axon‐like structures. The inadequacy of light microscopic examination alone for establishing the diagnosis with certainty is discussed. Review of the literature revealed only one case of a malignant schwannoma of the pancreas that was not resected. This is the first report confirmed by ultrastructural examination.