Adrenal Schwannoma

BACKGROUND Adrenal schwannomas are very rare tumors that are difficult to diagnose preoperatively. We report the case of a left adrenal schwannoma incidentally discovered in a 55-year-old man during a postoperative checkup for a cutaneous malignant melanoma. METHODS The biological evaluation was unremarkable, and the radiological examination revealed the adrenal mass that was first considered a metastatic lesion. Adrenalectomy was performed by the laparoscopic approach. RESULTS The postoperative course was uneventful. Histological examination established the correct diagnosis of schwannoma, which was also confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. CONCLUSIONS A nonsecreting adrenal mass can be easily misjudged, especially in the context of a recently operated on malignancy. Unilateral adrenal metastasis needs pathological confirmation, as it can dramatically affect prognosis. Unusual tumors of the adrenal gland may be found incidentally, and a malignant context will generate difficulties in establishing the right management. Complete laparoscopic excision is the treatment of choice whenever feasible and will also clarify pathology.