Keywords:
Tissue characterisation, Neoplasia, Observer performance, Education, Ultrasound-Colour Doppler, Ultrasound, Neuroradiology peripheral nerve, Musculoskeletal system, Musculoskeletal soft tissue
Authors:
D. Vergara1, M. caruso2, C. Panico2, U. passaretti1, A. Passaretti1, I. Punzo1, E. Vergara3, A. Brunetti2, P. Gisonni4; 1Naples/IT, 2Napoli/IT, 3Frattamaggiore/IT, 4Napoli (NA)/IT
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-1820
Conclusion
Schwannoma is the most common benign tumor of peripheral nerves but represents only 5% of all soft tissue tumors,
with the incidence of schwannoma of the hand and wrist reported as low as 1% (6).
The vast majority (95%) of neurofibromas are solitary and are not associated with neurofibromatosis 1 (von Recklinghausen disease) or neurofibromatosis 3 (7).
Generally,
schwannoma is known to be a slowly enlarging painless mass close to a peripheral nerve.
It is usually asymptomatic,
but it can also present with pain,
paresthesia,
tenderness and Tinel’s sign (distribution of the affected nerve upon percussion over the site of swelling) (6).
Growth of schwannoma within the epineurium creates encapsulation,
which allows successful surgical excision,
that is the treatment of choice (5)
The method of surgical excision commonly depends on the preoperative diagnosis.
Marginal excision is the general surgical treatment for ganglion cysts and benign solid tumors.
Enucleation using a microsurgical technique is the common surgical treatment for schwannoma.
Extremely rare are metastasis and relapse.
The slow and painless growth,
the low incidence in general population make the schwannoma often misdiagnosed (3).
Preoperative diagnosis directly influences the surgical excision and so post-operative complication.