Gastric schwannoma

Gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors are a group of tumors originated from the mesenchymal stem cells of the gastrointestinal tract, consisting of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), leiomyomas or leiomyosarcomas or schwannomas. Gastric schwannoma is a very rare gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumor, which represents only 0.2% of all gastric tumors and 4% of all benign gastric neoplasms. We report a 24-year-old girl who suffered from an episode of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The endoscopic examination showed a round submucosal tumor with a central ulceration and bleeding over the high body of the stomach. Surgical resection of the tumor was performed. The pathological examination revealed a picture of spindle cell tumor that was strongly positive for S-100 protein stain, and non-reactive for CD34, CD117, actin, HHF-35, desmin, melan-A and HMB-45, consistent with gastric schwannoma. The literature is reviewed.