A urological diagnostic conundrum: schwannoma masquerading as an enlarged prostate

Prostatic schwannoma discovered after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: A case report with literature review

Background

Schwannomas originating in the prostate are extremely rare. We present a case of prostatic schwannoma in a 66-year-old male with lower urinary tract symptoms. Preoperative evaluation revealed a prostatic mass, and the definitive diagnosis was made through laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Case presentation

A 66-year-old male presented with persistent lower urinary tract symptoms for 5 years and a prostate-specific antigen level of 0.63 ng/mL. MRI showed a well-defined solid cystic mass in the posterolateral basal right peripheral zone, causing superior displacement of the right seminal vesicle. Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy was performed, confirming a periprostatic schwannoma.

Conclusion

This case highlights the rarity of prostatic schwannomas and their association with lower urinary tract symptoms. MRI plays a crucial role in identifying prostatic masses, while laparoscopic radical prostatectomy can serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic approach for prostatic schwannomas. Increased awareness of this rare entity is essential for accurate diagnosis and optimal management.

Periprostatic schwannoma mimicking metastatic lymphadenopathy in a case of multifocal prostate adenocarcinoma

Schwannomas of the prostate are a rare entity and usually diagnosed incidentally following surgical management of presumed benign prostate hyperplasia or prostate adenocarcinoma. We present a case of sporadic periprostatic schwannoma diagnosed in conjunction with multifocal prostate adenocarcinoma on pre-operative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.

Incidental periprostatic schwannoma discovered during evaluation for prostatic adenocarcinoma

Schwannomas of the prostate are exceedingly rare. We present a noteworthy case of a sporadic prostatic schwannoma diagnosed in conjunction with prostatic adenocarcinoma.

A 60-year-old male presented with mild lower urinary tract symptoms and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) level of 4.84 ng/mL. A transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy revealed multifocal Grade Group 2 prostate cancer. MRI demonstrated a PI-RADS 4 lesion and a periprostatic cystic lesion. Prostatectomy was performed. Final pathology demonstrated prostatic adenocarcinoma, with a separate periprostatic schwannoma. We present the first case in the literature of a sporadic periprostatic schwannoma discovered during evaluation for prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Mesenchymal tumors of the prostate

Mesenchymal tumors of the prostate are rare but often cause considerable diagnostic difficulty when encountered. These may be either benign or malignant and can arise within the prostate gland or in adjacent tissues. This review covers prostatic stromal proliferations (prostatic stromal tumor of uncertain malignant potential and stromal sarcoma), solitary fibrous tumor, myofibroblastic proliferations, smooth muscle neoplasms (leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma), gastrointestinal stromal tumor, schwannoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, postradiation sarcoma, and mixed epithelial stromal tumor of the seminal vesicle. Differential diagnostic considerations are emphasized, including descriptions of helpful histological and/or clinical clues and the use of adjuvant diagnostic techniques.

Mesenchymal Tumors of the Prostate

Prostatic mesenchymal tumors encompass various benign and malignant neoplasms that may derived from the intrinsic prostatic stroma or from associated elements including muscle, connective tissue, blood vessels, and neural structures. The differential diagnosis of these tumors is broad and encompasses prostatic epithelial processes that demonstrate prominent spindle cell morphology, as well as mesenchymal tumors that secondarily involve the prostate. Careful morphologic examination, clinical history, and judicious use of a limited panel of immunohistochemical markers and molecular tests aid in the proper diagnosis of these lesions. This article provides a structured guide for the analysis and diagnosis of both benign and malignant prostatic mesenchymal lesions and highlights key features that distinguish these entities within the differential diagnosis of prostatic spindle cell lesions.

Nonepithelial Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions of the Prostate Gland

Many significant benign and malignant nonepithelial tumors and stromal tumor-like lesions arise in the prostate gland. Although such lesions are rare, their recognition by the pathologist is essential because their treatment and prognosis are quite variable. In this review, lesions of the specialized prostatic stroma, that is, lesions that can be seen in the stroma of the prostate but not in that of other organs, except for the phyllodes type of lesions, are discussed. Benign and malignant lesions of the soft tissues that occur in the stroma of other organs and are seen with some frequency in the prostate are also discussed. Few of the rarer soft tissue lesions are mentioned. Lesions and tumors with melanocytic differentiation, hematopoietic derivation, and germ cell tumors are described. It is hoped that this review will serve as a useful reference when encountering some of these lesions, all of which are referenced to their original and subsequent reports. Some non-English language references are also cited to reflect the international recognition of these lesions or to give credit to the author who first described the entity.

Schwannoma of a seminal vesicle

We present the first reported case of a schwannoma of the seminal vesicle that occurred in a 48-year-old man who presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the patient's right seminal vesicle. The patient was also found to have a rising prostate-specific antigen level and underwent a transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate and seminal vesicles, which revealed prostate cancer and schwannoma of the seminal vesicle, respectively. Radical prostatectomy with en bloc removal of the seminal vesicle mass was performed and the patient has been free of disease 24 months postoperatively.