Loss of heterozygosity of the APC gene in a case of vestibular schwannoma assessed by two intragenetic markers.

Schwannomas are benign encapsulated tumors of Schwann cells, the main peripheral glia cells. The majority of schwannomas arise spontaneously and account for 8% of intracranial tumors. Those involving the cerebellopontine angle are schwannomas in 90% of cases. A case is presented of the loss of heterozygosity of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene in a female patient with cranial schwannoma from Croatia. The observed change of the APC gene was investigated by use of two intragenetic markers. In the light of novel findings on merlin connection to the wnt signaling reported in the literature, the finding of gross deletion in a patient with cranial vestibular schwannoma is a relevant genetic event.