Spontaneous aortic rupture in a malignant schwannoma.

We have described a case of malignant schwannoma (MS) originating from the posterior mediastinum with subsequent pathologic rupture of the thoracic aorta. The patient presented with acute retrosternal pain radiating to the back, and she died on the day of admission. Necropsy revealed a large hemothorax and a tumor mass involving the thoracic aorta. The histologic features of the lesion fulfilled the criteria for delineated MS. We found no similar cases of thoracic MS with consequent aorta rupture.