Cystic schwannoma of the axillary region: imaging findings of a rare disease. Case report.

Abstract

Schwannomas are well capsulated, benign, and slowly growing tumors which originate from Schwann cells of peripheral nerve sheath. The incidence of schwannomas in the axillary region is not common. This rarity causes misdiagnosis at the ra- diological evaluation. In this case we present the imaging and histopathological findings of a cystic schwannoma located in the axillary fossa of a 47-year-old female patient mimicking complex cyst, lymphadenopathy or hydatid cyst in radiological evaluation. Although lymphadenopathy, lymphatic malformation, lipoma, cyst, hidradenitis suppurativa or dermatofibroma are the most frequent lesions to be considered, peripheral nerve sheath should also be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of axillary masses.