Malignant schwannoma of tip of nose.

Abstract

MALIGNANT schwannoma occurring on the tip of the nose is an extremely rare condition. The fact that it occurred in a person who had irradiation to the face for eczema 15 years prior to this episode adds further interest. Benign and malignant neurilemmoma can occur in any peripheral nerve in the body possessing a neurilemma. The malignant schwannoma can occur in any age group but is most frequently seen after the fifth decade. No specific causative factors are known. There is, however, a definite relationship with disseminated neurofibromatosis. Approximately 50% of the malignant neurilemmomas reported have occurred in persons suffering from disseminated neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease). There has been no proved instance of association with benign neurilemmoma and no record of a benign neurilemmoma ever having turned into a malignant neurilemmoma. When the disease is associated with disseminated neurofibromatosis, the prognosis is very poor, with aggressive and extensive infiltration into