A choroidal schwannoma confirmed by surgical excision

Korean J Ophthalmol. 2009 Mar;23(1):49-52. doi: 10.3341/kjo.2009.23.1.49. Epub 2009 Mar 9.

Abstract

Schwannomas rarely present as intraocular tumors and are often misdiagnosed as malignant melanoma. We describe a choroidal schwannoma confirmed by sclerouvectomy. A 30-year-old woman presented with a large nonpigmented intraocular mass of the choroid in the right eye and underwent surgical excision by sclerouvectomy. Histologically, the tumor was composed of a mixture of cellular solid components (Antoni A) and loose myxoid components (Antoni B). The tumor was eventually diagnosed as a schwannoma. Currently available ancillary studies are still of little value in definitively differentiating schwannomas from other choroidal tumors. In the case of atypical findings for a malignant melanoma, a benign neoplasm should be included in the differential diagnosis. This patient avoided enucleation by first having the mass excised. We are unaware of previous reports in which a choroidal schwannoma was diagnosed by surgical excision.

Keywords: Enucleation; Schwannoma; Sclerouvectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Choroid / pathology*
  • Choroid Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Choroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Eye Enucleation / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neurilemmoma / diagnosis*
  • Neurilemmoma / surgery