Xu SM, Qiu LY. Incidental schwannoma of the pancreatic tail mimicking a solid pseudopapillary tumor: A case report. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(6): 119246 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.119246]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Lei-Yu Qiu, Department of Radiology, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jianmin Road, Taozhu Subdistrict, Zhuji 311800, Zhejiang Province, China. xushuangmei2021@126.com
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Oncology
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case-report
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Xu SM, Qiu LY. Incidental schwannoma of the pancreatic tail mimicking a solid pseudopapillary tumor: A case report. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(6): 119246 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.119246]
World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2026; 18(6): 119246 Published online Jun 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.119246
Incidental schwannoma of the pancreatic tail mimicking a solid pseudopapillary tumor: A case report
Shuang-Mei Xu, Lei-Yu Qiu
Shuang-Mei Xu, Lei-Yu Qiu, Department of Radiology, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhuji 311800, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Xu SM and Qiu LY designed the study and wrote the manuscript; Xu SM performed pathological analysis; Qiu LY was responsible for the preoperative diagnosis and observed the surgery. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Lei-Yu Qiu, Department of Radiology, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jianmin Road, Taozhu Subdistrict, Zhuji 311800, Zhejiang Province, China. xushuangmei2021@126.com
Received: February 3, 2026 Revised: February 11, 2026 Accepted: March 20, 2026 Published online: June 27, 2026 Processing time: 148 Days and 18.1 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic schwannomas are extremely rare benign neurogenic tumors, with nonspecific clinical and imaging features leading to frequent preoperative misdiagnosis as other pancreatic neoplasms. This case report clarifies its diagnostic process and clinical management.
CASE SUMMARY
A 58-year-old asymptomatic woman was found to have a 27 mm × 19 mm well-encapsulated hypovascular mass in the pancreatic tail on routine imaging, which was misdiagnosed as solid pseudopapillary tumor preoperatively. She received open distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. Pathological and immunohistochemical (S-100, SOX10SRY-related high-mobility group-box 10 positive) results confirmed pancreatic schwannoma. The patient recovered smoothly with no recurrence at 12-month follow-up.
CONCLUSION
Pancreatic schwannoma, a rare hypovascular mass mimicking solid pseudopapillary tumor, requires surgical resection for cure with excellent prognosis.
Core Tip: Pancreatic schwannoma is a rare benign tumor that often mimics solid pseudopapillary tumor on imaging. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge and emphasizes that complete surgical resection is curative. Definitive diagnosis requires immunohistochemical confirmation with S-100 and SRY-related high-mobility group-box 10 positive positivity.
