Unusual presentation of giant schwannoma in the sciatic nerve

Abstract

Introduction: Schwannomas are benign, encapsulated, slow-growing, generally solitary tumors originating from Schwann cells in the peripheral nerve heath. Schwannoma of the sciatic nerve is a rare condition and, therefore, little documented in the literature. Case Report: A 77-year-old female patient arrived at the clinic complaining of pain and the appearance of a mass in the middle third of her left thigh. She presented with a well-defined mass, horizontally movable, hyperalgesia to the touch at the site of the mass, and positive Tinel’s sign. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple lesions suggestive of neurinomas, with intense nodular enhancement after gadolinium contrast injection, diffuse, in the right thigh and in the middle third of the left thigh. Surgical treatment was proposed by our team, but the patient preferred to continue the outpatient follow-up, because the injury did not interfere in her daily activities. Conclusion: Although schwannoma in the sciatic nerve is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with conditions that affect this nerve.