Retroperitoneal schwannoma between the inferior vena cava and the abdominal aorta resected by laparoscopic surgery: A case report.

A 22-year-old woman presented with backache. Imaging analysis revealed a retroperitoneal tumor, 40 mm in diameter, surrounded by the abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava, caudate lobe of liver, and the left renal vein. The tumor consisted of multilocular cystic parts, and a solid part showed contrast enhancement. The possibility of malignancy could not be excluded, so we planned a laparoscopic tumorectomy. After placement of a transjugular vascular sheath for an occlusion balloon catheter in the inferior vena cava, the operation was performed with six ports. There was a strong fibrotic adhesion between the tumor and the abdominal aorta, with other weak adhesions. The tumor was successfully resected by a laparoscopic operation with minimal bleeding. The histopathological diagnosis was a benign schwannoma. This case demonstrates that a retroperitoneal tumor adjacent to major vessels can be resected safely by laparoscopic surgery if the surgeon is especially careful of the possibility of accidental bleeding.