Pelvic schwannoma in a 2-year-old boy: A case report

Introduction: Schwannomas are benign tumors that arise from the Schwann cells found in peripheral nerve sheaths. These uncommon masses are rare tumors of childhood. When they do occur, the vast majority are located in the head and neck region. Pelvic schwannomas are exceedingly rare in patients unde...

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Main Authors: Maria Koenen, Scott Keckler, Jon Ryckman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213576625000028
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author Maria Koenen
Scott Keckler
Jon Ryckman
author_facet Maria Koenen
Scott Keckler
Jon Ryckman
author_sort Maria Koenen
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Schwannomas are benign tumors that arise from the Schwann cells found in peripheral nerve sheaths. These uncommon masses are rare tumors of childhood. When they do occur, the vast majority are located in the head and neck region. Pelvic schwannomas are exceedingly rare in patients under 10 years old. Case presentation: A previously healthy 2-year-old boy presented with intermittent abdominal pain and poor appetite. Physical exam revealed a large, palpable abdominal mass that extended from the pelvis to well above the umbilicus. Ultrasound and CT imaging delineated a 14 cm mass that seemed to originate from the pre-sacral area. Rhabdomyosarcoma was the primary differential diagnosis, along with teratoma. An open biopsy was performed, and pathology revealed a cellular schwannoma. Given that the mass was non-malignant but symptomatic, the patient was taken for surgical resection. A midline laparotomy was performed and the mass carefully freed from surrounding structures. It was adherent but not invasive. Complete resection was performed without injury to surrounding structures. The patient discharged home on post-operative day 3 and has since had full symptom resolution. The final pathology was consistent with the original biopsy results. Genetic testing was negative for neurofibromatosis. While recurrence is unlikely, yearly ultrasounds are planned for monitoring. Conclusion: Pelvic schwannoma is an uncommon, but important, addition to the differential diagnosis for pediatric pelvic masses and should be managed with surgical resection and genetic testing when encountered.
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spelling doaj-art-e2ff710a98cf4571b5da72a84ffc67592025-08-20T03:05:07ZengElsevierJournal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports2213-57662025-03-0111410295710.1016/j.epsc.2025.102957Pelvic schwannoma in a 2-year-old boy: A case reportMaria Koenen0Scott Keckler1Jon Ryckman2University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine General Surgery Residency, 1400 W 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USASanford Children's Hospital, Pediatric Surgery, 1600 W 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USASanford Children's Hospital, Pediatric Surgery, 1600 W 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA; Corresponding author.Introduction: Schwannomas are benign tumors that arise from the Schwann cells found in peripheral nerve sheaths. These uncommon masses are rare tumors of childhood. When they do occur, the vast majority are located in the head and neck region. Pelvic schwannomas are exceedingly rare in patients under 10 years old. Case presentation: A previously healthy 2-year-old boy presented with intermittent abdominal pain and poor appetite. Physical exam revealed a large, palpable abdominal mass that extended from the pelvis to well above the umbilicus. Ultrasound and CT imaging delineated a 14 cm mass that seemed to originate from the pre-sacral area. Rhabdomyosarcoma was the primary differential diagnosis, along with teratoma. An open biopsy was performed, and pathology revealed a cellular schwannoma. Given that the mass was non-malignant but symptomatic, the patient was taken for surgical resection. A midline laparotomy was performed and the mass carefully freed from surrounding structures. It was adherent but not invasive. Complete resection was performed without injury to surrounding structures. The patient discharged home on post-operative day 3 and has since had full symptom resolution. The final pathology was consistent with the original biopsy results. Genetic testing was negative for neurofibromatosis. While recurrence is unlikely, yearly ultrasounds are planned for monitoring. Conclusion: Pelvic schwannoma is an uncommon, but important, addition to the differential diagnosis for pediatric pelvic masses and should be managed with surgical resection and genetic testing when encountered.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213576625000028PediatricSchwannomaPelvisCase report
spellingShingle Maria Koenen
Scott Keckler
Jon Ryckman
Pelvic schwannoma in a 2-year-old boy: A case report
Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports
Pediatric
Schwannoma
Pelvis
Case report
title Pelvic schwannoma in a 2-year-old boy: A case report
title_full Pelvic schwannoma in a 2-year-old boy: A case report
title_fullStr Pelvic schwannoma in a 2-year-old boy: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Pelvic schwannoma in a 2-year-old boy: A case report
title_short Pelvic schwannoma in a 2-year-old boy: A case report
title_sort pelvic schwannoma in a 2 year old boy a case report
topic Pediatric
Schwannoma
Pelvis
Case report
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213576625000028
work_keys_str_mv AT mariakoenen pelvicschwannomaina2yearoldboyacasereport
AT scottkeckler pelvicschwannomaina2yearoldboyacasereport
AT jonryckman pelvicschwannomaina2yearoldboyacasereport