Mucosal Schwann Cell Hamartoma in Colorectal Mucosa: A Rare Benign Lesion That Resembles Gastrointestinal Neuroma.

The term mucosal Schwann cell hamartoma (MSCH) was first proposed by Gibson and Hornick in 2009 [1] to describe a group of neuronal polyps purely composed of S-100–positive Schwann cells, in an attempt to distinguish from true “neuromas” and “neurofibromas.” To our knowledge, only 10 cases have been reported in the literature since it was first described (Table 1). MSCH is currently thought to have no association with any inherited disorder. Herein, we describe a case of MSCH and discuss the morphologic and immunohistochemical features with a differential diagnosis in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Table 1.

Features of Schwann cell hamartoma repoerted in colorectum

Reference	Year	No. of cases	Location	Age (yr)	Sex	Symptom	Endoscopic finding
Gibson and Hornick [1]	2009	26	Predominantly in rectosigmoid colon	Mean 62 (46–88)	M:F = 10:16	Asymptomatic (most common), diarrhea, lower GI bleeding	Sessile polyp, 1–6 mm (mean, 2.5 mm)
Pasquini et al. [6]	2009	1	Rectosigmoid colon	60	F	Occult blood in the stool	Sessile polyp, 5 mm
Rocco et al. [5]	2011	1	Sigmoid colon	67	F	Asymptomatic	Sessile polyp, 3 mm
Sagami et al. [7]	2012	1	Sigmoid colon	40	M	Occult blood in the stool	Many small whitish nodules in mucosa
Bae et al. [3]	2013	1	Descending colon	41	F	Asymptomatic	Polyp, 8 mm
Neis et al. [4]	2013	1	Sigmoid colon	59	M	Underlying ulcerative colitis	Polyp, 3 mm
Ferro de Beca et al. [8]	2014	1	Sigmoid colon	72	M	Asymptomatic	Polyp, 5 mm
Klair et al. [2]	2014	1	Rectum	78	F	Abdominal pain and intermittent tenesmus	Polyp, 7 mm along with rectal erythema and inflammation
Kanar et al. [9]	2015	1	Sigmoid colon	67	M	Asymptomatic	Polyp, 6 mm
Bae et al. [10]	2015	1	Rectum	20	M	Abdominal discomfort and loose stools	Polyp, 4 mm and scattered tiny polyp-like mucosal elevation
Present case	2015	1	Rectum	49	M	Asymptomatic	Tiny polyp-like mucosal elevation, 2 mm

M, male; F, female; GI, gastrointestinal.

CASE REPORT

A 2-mm-sized rectal polyp was found in a follow-up colonoscopy of a 49-year-old male who has no significant family history of other neuronal lesions or inherited syndromes but had a tubular adenoma resected 2 years prior (Fig. 1A). On microscopic examination, the rectal polyp showed a poorly circumscribed proliferation of spindle cells in the lamina propria, separating the crypt architecture (Fig. 1B). The cells were uniformly elongated, with tapered nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm with indistinct cell borders. Nuclear atypia, pleomorphism, or mitosis was not observed (Fig. 1C). On immunohistochemical staining, the cells displayed a strong and diffuse positivity for S-100 in both the nucleus and cytoplasm (Ventana, Roche, Tucson, AZ, USA) (Fig. 1D). In comparison, the cells did not have immunoreactivity for c-Kit, CD34, glial fibrillary acidic protein, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), smooth muscle actin, or neurofilament protein (NFP). Because the spindle cells did not form a discrete mass but rather an interspersed proliferation between normal structures, the lesion was diagnosed as MSCH.

Fig. 1.

Schwann cell hamartoma of rectal mucosa. (A) Colonoscopy shows a 2-mm sized tiny polyp-like mucosal elevation without erosion or ulceration. (B, C) Hematoxylin and eosin shows scattered proliferation of bland spindle cells in the lamina propria. (D) Immunohistochemical staining for S-100 displays a positivity of both nucleus and cytoplasm.

DISCUSSION

A diagnosis of MSCH should be made after exclusion of other lesions that resemble spindle cell proliferation and other neuronal tumors. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, which are the most common spindle cell tumor in the GI tract, can be easily excluded by the characteristic immunoreactivity of c-Kit.

Colorectal neurofibromas are another important differential diagnosis of MSCH because they are also composed of Schwann cells, fibroblasts, perineural cells, and NFP-positive axons and usually form a vague tumor without discrete demarcation. However, they are often associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), which is usually accompanied by multiple cutaneous neurofibromas. Colorectal lesion as a primary clinical presentation without skin manifestation is also exceedingly rare [1].

Mucosal neuromas appear as an ill-defined mass and are composed of hyperplastic nerve fibers arranged in an irregularly ramifying manner [1]. In contrast to our case, mucosal neuromas have perineurial capsules, which are often EMA-positive. They are almost always multiple and a part of the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type IIb (MEN2B), of which the most important component is a medullary thyroid carcinoma.

GI ganglioneuromas are most common in colorectal neuronal lesions and reveal hypercellular stroma composed of mainly S-100–positive Schwann cells. They differ from MSCH in that they are mixed with variable numbers of neuron-specific enolase–positive ganglion cells [1,2]. Solitary polypoid ganglioneuromas are not associated with systemic manifestations [3]; however, ganglioneuromatous polyposis and diffuse ganglioneuromatosis are associated with Cowden syndrome, Juvenile polyposis syndrome, MEN2B (particularly with diffuse ganglioneuromatosis), and NF1 [4].

GI schwannomas are composed of bland spindle cells arranged in vague fascicles. Unlike their counterparts from the central nervous system and peripheral soft tissue, the nuclear palisading, so-called Verocay bodies, are absent, which can be similar to MSCH. However, they have characteristic peripheral lymphoid cuffs and form more demarcated tumors than do MSCH [4,5].

Mucosal perineuromas are usually solitary lesions and are characterized by a whorled growth pattern of bland spindle cells that expand the lamina propria [5], which are morphologically very similar to MSCH. Unlike MSCH, they have colonic epithelium with serrated architecture and express perineural markers such as EMA, whereas they are negative for S-100 protein [2].

Finally, inflammatory fibroid polyps (Vanek’s tumor) can be confused with MSCH. They are composed of stellate or spindle-shaped, bland stromal cells that are arranged in an onion skin-like pattern around blood vessels and mucosal glands [5]. They have inflammatory infiltrates dominated by eosinophils, which are not observed in MSCH. Additionally, they are not immunoreactive for S-100 and are extremely rare in the colon.

MSCH is a rare benign lesion, and cases with clinical features are summarized in Table 1. Cases are primarily detected as small polyps that range from 1 to 8 mm (mean, 5 mm) and are predominantly located in the rectosigmoid colon. Patients are typically asymptomatic, and none of the patient cases were associated with an inherited syndrome. The clinical features of this case are similar to those summarized in Table 1.

In summary, MSCH is a rare lesion that can be found incidentally during routine colonoscopy. Although there is currently no indication that MSCH is related to inherited syndromes or malignancies, it is important for pathologists to include it in the differential diagnosis of S-100–positive spindle cell proliferative lesions for accurate diagnosis and to prevent aggressive or unnecessary treatments.