RETROPERITONEAL MASS: TALK NERVES TO ME (Retroperitoneal femoral schwannoma with postoperative iatrogenic femoral neuropathy: Case report)

Abstract

Retroperitoneal femoral schwannomas constitute a rather small percentage of primary retroperitoneal tumors. Proper preoperative diagnosis is often difficult since imaging studies are nonspecific and differential diagnosis quite extensive. We present the case of a 71-year-old patient with a radiologically described retroperitoneal mass - postoperatively confirmed by pathohistology as a benign schwannoma. The tumor was removed in toto; however, the postoperative course was complicated with symptoms of femoral nerve damage. Although benign in nature (and exceedingly rare to turn malignant) schwannomas are treated surgically as the rate of complete resection without nerve damage is high. Left untreated they gain in mass and can cause significant pain due to displacement of the involved nerve. The significance of this case report is in highlighting the importance of considering schwannomas as a differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors which in turn will lead to a strong strategy for avoiding postoperative complications.