Ultrasound Examination Facilitated the Diagnosis of an Intercostal Schwannoma

Cureus. 2022 Jun 19;14(6):e26079. doi: 10.7759/cureus.26079. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Ultrasound imaging is known for its capability in scrutinizing superficial soft tissue disorders. We report a rare case of a 71-year-old male who presented with a history of rectal cancer with lymph node metastasis and had complete remission after surgery and chemotherapy. He had a palpable mass over the right anterior lower chest, which became gradually painful in the recent six months. Ultrasound facilitated the diagnosis of an intercostal schwannoma, which was also evident on magnetic resonance imaging and was confirmed by the histopathological study. Following the tumor excision, the patient had complete pain relief at the second-month follow-up. The case report highlighted the usefulness of ultrasound in clarification of the exact location of a chest wall tumor in relation to ribs, pleura, adjacent muscles, and intercostal neurovascular bundles as well as delineation of its echotexture and internal vascularity.

Keywords: intercostal; neurilemmoma; schwannoma; thorax; ultrasonography.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch; Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 106-2314-B-002-180-MY3 and 109-2314-B-002-114-MY3); and the Taiwan Society of Ultrasound in Medicine