Isolated neurofibroma of the stomach. Case report and review of the literature

: An uncommon case of gastric neurofibroma is described: it was an incidental finding during assessment for abdominal pain, possibly due to pancreatitis, in a 58 year old man, with no sign of von Recklinghausen's disease. The generic diagnosis of gastric wall neoplasia was made by CT scanning; the neoplasm was resected with wedge resection of gastric wall. Histological and ultrastructural examination revealed a neurofibroma. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare occurrence and usually are of smooth muscle derivation: a small percentage arises from nerve sheet, but such a distinction is never sharp. Neurogenic gastric tumors are usually benign and only 10% of von Recklinghausen associated neurofibromas can undergo malignant transformation. Wide excision of the tumor appears therefore the treatment of choice.