Multiple schwannomas in the radial nerve

Giant Schwannoma of ulnar nerve: case report

Schwannomas are the most common benign neoplasms of the peripheral nerves in the upper limbs.

Although many are asymptomatic, they can produce a mass effect, thus impinging against soft tissues or interfering with joint function.

The authors present a case report and a review of a giant Schwannoma in the ulnar nerve.

Schwannomas of the upper extremity: analysis of 34 cases

BACKGROUND

Schwannomas are the most common benign tumours developing in peripheral nerves. They usually present as a slow-growing mass, sometimes associated with pain and paraesthesia. The aim of this study is to define the correct preoperative diagnosis, to review the surgical treatment employed and to evaluate short- and long-term neurological deficits.

METHODS

Thirty-four patients affected by schwannoma in the upper limbs were treated in the period 1995-2011. In 15 patients the tumour was located on the ulnar nerve, in 8 on the median nerve, in 2 on the radial nerve, in 1 on the anterior interosseous nerve, in 1 on the muscle-cutaneous nerve, and in the remaining 7 on the digital nerves. All patients were surgically treated using a microsurgical approach.

RESULTS

The enucleation of the mass was possible without fascicle lesion in 12 cases. In 22 cases resection of the indissociable fascicles was performed. Postoperative paraesthesia was present in 28 out of 34 treated patients; this clinical sign regressed in a mean period of 12 months in 27 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

When approaching a palpable mass in the upper limbs, the possibility of a peripheral nerve tumour should always be considered. It is important to look for typical signs of schwannomas, such as a positive Tinel sign and peripheral paraesthesia. Imaging assessment with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography enables the determination of where the tumour takes its origin and from which nerve. Microsurgical techniques and know-how are recommended in approaching the resection in order to respect as many nerve fibres as possible.

Ancient schwannoma involving the median nerve: a case report and review of the literature

Ancient schwannomas are benign long standing schwannomas of the neural sheaths. Histological findings are these seen as in conventional schwannomas, but ancient schwannomas additionally demonstrate cystic hemorrhagic changes and degenerative nuclei with pleomorphism and hyperchromasia. Due to the nuclear atypia, and cystic degeneration, ancient schwannomas might be confused with malignant tumors on histology and imaging, leading to a radical surgical approach. The median nerve is rarely affected. We present a rare case of an ancient schwannoma involving the median nerve at the mid humerus. The tumor slowly grew up within ten years and become symptomatic with local pain, mild numbness in the distribution of the median nerve in the palm and Tinel's test. The tumor was successfully removed by separating it from the nerve fascicles to negative margins. Post-operatively local symptoms relieved but minor sensory loss in the median nerve distribution in the palm was noticed which improved in the following six months. Ancient schwannomas can be misdiagnosed as sarcomas due to specific imaging and histologic findings. Patients' physical examination, history and fine radiologic and pathology features should be cautiously interpreted in order to achieve correct diagnosis and avoid unnecessary wide tumor excisions.

Multinodular/plexiform (multifascicular) schwannomas of major peripheral nerves: an underrecognized part of the spectrum of schwannomas

OBJECT

In clinical practice, schwannomas are among the most common types of nerve sheath tumors. Their clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, and operative features are well known. Over the past 20 years, clinical outcomes have improved due to resection of these tumors at a fascicular level. Despite these advances, a subgroup of patients with schwannomas is associated with a disappointing neurological outcome following resection. The purpose of this study was to correlate the imaging and histological features in this group of patients with more anatomically complex forms of schwannomas.

METHODS

In a retrospective review performed at their institution over a 10-year period, the authors found a subgroup of patients with complex multinodular/plexiform schwannomas affecting major peripheral nerves. Eleven patients were identified, and the clinical, imaging, and pathological features of their disease were reviewed.

RESULTS

The clinical presentation of multinodular/plexiform schwannomas of major peripheral nerves may be similar to that of conventional schwannomas, but their imaging features, operative appearance, and outcomes differ.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperatively and intraoperatively, the distinguishing features of multinodular/plexiform schwannomas of major peripheral nerves may be subtle and can easily go unrecognized, thus explaining the often suboptimal surgical results. Familiarity with the imaging and operative features of multinodular/plexiform schwannomas will no doubt alter treatment approaches and improve neurological function in this subgroup of patients.

[Schwannomas of the peripheral nerve in the hand and the upper limb: Analysis of 14 cases]

The Schwannomas are usually considered as enucleable lesions of which the excision under microscope doesn't entail a post-operative deficit. Having frequently observed the inclusion of fascicle in the tumor, we wanted to verify the absence of deficit in a retrospective survey. Our survey is composed of 14 patients operated of schwannoma of the superior member and whose mean age is 53 years old. All patients presented an average of nine months old palpable mass; the pain was present in four cases; paresthesiae in seven cases; irritatif syndrome in ten cases. A preoperative sensory deficit was present in two patients but without any case of preoperative motor deficit. The schwannoma was localized in eight cases in the hand, one case in the forearm, two cases in the elbow, two cases in the arm and one case in the armpit. The affected nerves were the digital ones in six cases, the main trunk of the median nerve in four cases, the trunk of the ulnaire nerve in three cases and the sensory branch of the radial nerve in one case. All tumors have been operated under a microscope. The enucleation was possible without fascicle lesion in six cases. In the eight other cases we have proceeded to a resection of indissociable fascicles. The diagnosis is confirmed by the histologycal examination in all cases. In postoperative, the two patients that presented a preoperative sensory deficit no longer presented it. On the contrary, three patients that didn't have any preoperative deficit presented each a post-operative sensory deficit with in addition a motor trouble in one of cases. We conclude from this survey that there is a risk of peroperative fascicle lesion even when using the microscope. This information is important to consider in the setting of deciding how to proceed before the excision of this benign lesion.

Schwannomas of the hand and wrist: long-term results and review of the literature

PURPOSE

To review the long-term results of 14 cases of histopathologically confirmed schwannoma of the hand and wrist treated with intracapsular tumour removal.

METHODS

All operations were performed under loupe magnification and microsurgical dissection, and the tumour was removed after capsular (including endoneurium) incision. Patients were assessed for any residual symptoms. Sensory testing of light touch and pain was carried out.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 38.4 years (range, 11-78 years), and the mean follow-up period was 12.6 years (range, 3-36 years). Ten of the tumours were located in the median nerve distribution, whereas 4 in the ulnar nerve distribution. Four tumours were at the wrist level, 3 at the palm level, and 7 at the digital level (3 in the index finger). Only 5 patients were correctly diagnosed preoperatively. Neurological loss was not recovered in one patient in whom the tumour was resected with the digital nerve. No recurrence or muscle atrophy was noted at the latest follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Meticulous dissection with magnification can achieve complete tumour removal without neurological loss or recurrence. Intracapsular tumour removal provides good results with a low complication rate.

Multiple schwannomas of the median nerve: a case report and literature review

We report a case of multiple schwannomas of the median nerve. Multiple schwannomas can be difficult to diagnose on clinical grounds and can be mistakenly diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome or ganglia as in our case. Nerve conduction studies helped locate non-visible tumours. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful in the preoperative planning of these tumours. The appearances on scanning however can be sometimes confused for ganglia as in this case. Intraneural dissection of the schwannomas was carried out and the pathology is described.