Pleural Schwannoma: An Uncommon Cause of Intrathoracic Mass — A rare Case Report

Abstract

A woman in her 40s was incidentally found to have a right-sided pleural-based mass on imaging. Further evaluation with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the chest, followed by CT-guided percutaneous biopsy, was undertaken. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of a schwannoma, a rare, slow-growing benign tumor arising from Schwann cells—the principal glial cells of the peripheral nervous system responsible for supporting nerve fibers. Primary pleural schwannomas are uncommon, accounting for approximately 1–2% of all thoracic tumors, and are thought to originate from the autonomic nerve sheath within the pleura. The patient was referred to thoracic surgery, where definitive surgical resection was recommended and is currently pending.