Endoscopic Mucosal Resection of a Colonic Schwannoma in a Patient with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Abstract

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired disorder that leads to the immunemediated destruction of platelets and inhibition of platelet release from megakaryocytes. Although serious bleeding is uncommon in patients with ITP, when performing surgery in a patient with ITP, bleeding during or following the surgery is a major concern. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) might be a good alternative to surgery; it can decrease the need for surgical intervention as well as the associated morbidity and mortality. However, reports on the EMR experience in patients with ITP are uncommon. Schwannomas are rare mesenchymal tumors that develop from the Schwann cells of peripheral nerves. Primary Schwannomas of the colon are extremely rare, and local surgical excision is the treatment of choice. This is the first case report of a patient with ITP and a large Schwannoma in the transverse colon that was removed by EMR.