Case Report
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2012; 18(48): 7397-7401
Published online Dec 28, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i48.7397
Endoscopic ultrasound features of gastric schwannomas with radiological correlation: A case series report
Dan-Dan Zhong, Cai-Hua Wang, Jing-Hong Xu, Miao-Yan Chen, Jian-Ting Cai
Dan-Dan Zhong, Cai-Hua Wang, Miao-Yan Chen, Jian-Ting Cai, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Jing-Hong Xu, Department of Pathology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Zhong DD, Wang CH, Xu JH, Chen MY and Cai JT contributed to the manuscript writing and revision.
Correspondence to: Jian-Ting Cai, MD, Director, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China. caijianting111@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-571-87783565 Fax: +86-571-86873326
Received: August 28, 2012
Revised: September 13, 2012
Accepted: October 30, 2012
Published online: December 28, 2012
Processing time: 155 Days and 11.8 Hours
Abstract

Gastric schwannomas are rare mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. They are usually misdiagnosed as other submucosal tumors preoperatively. Experience of the imaging features of gastric schwannomas is extremely limited. In this report, we summarize the features of a series of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) images of gastric schwannomas in an effort to improve the diagnosis and differential diagnosis rate. We retrospectively reviewed the endosonographic features of four patients with gastric schwannomas and their computed tomography imaging results. Gastric schwannomas had heterogeneous hypoechogenicity or isoechogenicity, and a well-demarcated margin. The tumors originated from the fourth layer. Cystic changes and calcification were uncommon. Marginal hypoechoic haloes were observed in two patients. The results described here were different from those of previous studies. In the EUS evaluation, the internal echogenicity of gastric schwannomas was heterogeneous and low, but slightly higher than that of muscularis propria. These features might help us differentiate gastric schwannomas from other submucosal tumors. Further investigation is needed to differentiate these mesenchymal tumors.

Keywords: Schwannomas; Endosonography; Stomach; Radiological examination; Imaging