# Rare Repeat: A Case Report and Literature Review of Recurrent Intrathoracic Schwannomas

## TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of a schwannoma tumor recurring in the same chest area eleven years after initial surgery.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in documenting a rare recurrence of schwannoma in the same anatomical site after complete surgical removal.

## Key findings

- A schwannoma recurred in the same chest wall location eleven years after initial resection.
- The tumor was successfully removed through a thoracotomy approach.
- The recurrence highlights the rare nature of schwannoma reoccurrence after complete surgical excision.

## Abstract

A schwannoma is a benign peripheral nerve tumor often located in the head and neck, posterior mediastinum, and, less frequently, in the chest wall. The recurrence of schwannoma at the same anatomical site after complete surgical resection is rare. This study discusses the case of a 60-year-old man with a recurring intercostal nerve schwannoma, which appeared eleven years after initial surgical resection in the same area of the chest wall. A second intrathoracic surgery was performed to remove a 6.0 x 3.0 x 2.5 cm partially encapsulated mass. The tumor was completely excised through a thoracotomy approach and revealed to be a schwannoma.