Abstract
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. 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. 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. 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.
Highlights
Schwannoma is a benign tumour developing from Schwann cells
Colopi Department of Radiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography enables the determination of where the tumour takes its origin and from which nerve
Schwannomas are well encapsulated and surgical enucleation is generally believed to be routinely possible without causing neurological deficit [12, 21, 25]
Summary
Schwannoma is a benign tumour developing from Schwann cells. In 95 % of cases schwannomas are usually solitary [27], but multiple tumours have been reported [20, 28, 29]. Schwannomas are well encapsulated and surgical enucleation is generally believed to be routinely possible without causing neurological deficit [12, 21, 25] This statement is not always true as reported by other authors [17, 24]. The purpose of this retrospective study of 34 schwannomas of the upper limb treated in a period of 16 years was to define the correct preoperative diagnosis, to review the surgical treatment employed and to evaluate short- and longterm neurological deficits. 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.
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