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INTRODUCTION: Schwannomas are tumors that arise from Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve sheath and rarely occur in the retroperitoneum (3% of all schwannomas). Patients are usually asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms, making accurate preoperative diagnosis difficult. Schwannomas are usually benign, but infrequently undergo malignant transformation. Herein, we report a case of retroperitoneal schwannoma and review the relevant literature. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 25-year-old woman presented to our department with a 2-year history of abdominal pain that was localized in the right flank without radiation, constipation/diarrhea or externalized digestive hemorrhage. On physical examination, we found a painless palpable mass in the right hypochondrium extending to the right iliac fossa, measuring approximately 10 cm. The MRI and CT scan showed the presence of a large intra-abdominal oval formation in the right para-umbilical region. It was well limited, measuring 110*69mm with discrete irregular contours, thickened wall and heterogeneous content mostly fluid. They also showed the presence of a cystic formation in the right ovary measuring 84*52mm and extending over 76mm. The procedure consisted of resection of the retroperitoneal solid cystic mass, right ovariectomy and drainage of the right parietal-colic gutter by Salem sump tube. A laparotomy with a median incision above and below the umbilicus was performed. After the resection, the specimens were sent for anatomopathological examination which concluded that the retroperitoneal mass was a schwannoma and the ovarian mass was a serous cystadenoma. DISCUSSION: Retroperitoneal schwannomas are rare tumors and a pre-operative diagnosis is often difficult. The diagnosis is most often fortuitous and late, given the latency of the tumor's evolution, and the definitive diagnosis is based on histopathologic examination. Herein we presented a case of retroperitoneal schwannoma and studied the features of this phenomenon on the basis of the literature. CONCLUSION: Retroperitoneal schwannomas are rare. The diagnosis is often late at the stage of a large tumor. Radiologic findings are usually nondiagnostic. The treatment of choice is complete surgical excision. Prognosis is good but because of the risk of recurrence and malignant transformation, further follow-up is necessary.
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INTRODUCTION: and importance: Retrorectal cystic hamartoma (RCH) is a rare congenital lesion of the presacral space, which is part of the vestigial cystic tumors often benign and predominantly in women. Generally asymptomatic, the appearance of symptoms such as pain or neurological disorders should raise suspicion of degeneration. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an unusual observation of a 62-year-old patient admitted for perineal pain evolving for 2 months associated with tenesma and chronic constipation. The digital rectal examination found a posterior bulge at 4 cm from the anal margin, without intraluminal lesion. Rectosigmoidoscopy had noted posterior extrinsic compression but no rectal tumor. Pelvic CT and MRI had shown a solidocystic formation of the retro-rectal and presacral spaces, related to an enteric cyst. The operation was performed by abdominal approach and the surgical exploration had found a bilobed cystic formation. The cystic mass was removed and the anatomopathological examination concluded that it was a cystic hamartoma with no sign of malignancy. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Retrorectal tumors develop in the space bounded anteriorly by the propria fascia of the rectum and posteriorly by the presacral fascia overlying the sacrum. Common in children and then often malignant, inversely, in adults, they are rare and most often benign tumors. They are generally asymptomatic with a predominance of females, unlike our observation where the patient was male with a symptomatology dominated by perineal pain and constipation. The discovery is incidental in the majority of cases, however, in some cases, these cysts may be revealed by complications. The lesion can be explored by transrectal or suprapubic ultrasound, MRI and CT scan. Rectoscopy and fistulography may complete the exploration in case of diagnostic doubt. The resection must be thorough and in monobloc because of the risk of recurrence and the approach depends on the location and the size of the lesion. CONCLUSION: RCH is a rare benign lesion whose morphological characteristics seem quite stereotyped. A detailed postoperative anatomopathological examination allows the diagnosis to be made and, above all, to look for a site of malignant transformation. This is why a complete surgical removal is necessary to prevent recurrence.