Introduction:

Esophageal schwannomas are tumors of the perineural components of the Schwann cell nerve sheath in peripheral nerves and account for 2% of primary esophageal tumors. Its low incidence makes diagnosis challenging; however, this etiology should be considered because its clinical and imaging behavior is rapidly progressive and unusual compared to other benign esophageal tumors.

Case study:

A 38-year-old female patient with a 1-year history of dysphagia underwent upper digestive tract endoscopy and contrast chest CT showing a mass at the cervical and transmural thoracic esophagus level, obstructing the lumen and exerting a mass effect on the trachea. A biopsy revealed a spindle cell tumor with positive immunohistochemistry for the S100 marker, leading to the diagnosis of esophageal Schwannoma. The patient is currently undergoing regular check-ups and is awaiting the advice of a clinical oncologist to recommend non-surgical treatment options due to the involvement of adjacent structures.

Conclusion:

The first diagnostic impression in the case of a suspected primary esophageal tumor would be a leiomyoma based on its incidence. The present case report of an esophageal schwannoma emphasizes that this is a differential diagnosis that requires timely treatment to avoid complications and sequelae in patients.

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