Laparoscopic Excision of a Retroperitoneal Cellular Schwannoma in a Young Adult

Abstract Retroperitoneal schwannomas are rare benign tumors arising from Schwann cells of peripheral nerves, accounting for approximately 0.5%–3% of all retroperitoneal neoplasms. Their deep anatomical location often leads to delayed diagnosis and nonspecific clinical manifestations. We report the case of a 19-year-old male with no significant medical history who presented with persistent low back pain. Radiologic imaging revealed a retroperitoneal mass with features suggestive of a peripheral nerve sheath tumor. The patient underwent laparoscopic excision, and histopathological examination confirmed a cellular schwannoma. Surgical margins were negative, and the postoperative course was uneventful. This case highlights the importance of considering retroperitoneal schwannomas in the differential diagnosis of chronic back pain in young patients and demonstrates that laparoscopic resection is a feasible and safe approach for complete tumor excision.