Tumors of peripheral nerves

Peripheral nerve tumors can arise from Schwann cells, fibroblasts or perineural cells. Among the most important representatives are "neurinoma (schwannoma, neurilema)", neurofibroma, tumor of granular cells, as well as perineurioma, neurothecoma or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST - malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor).

Schwannoma

 * Occurs either sporadically or as part of neurofibromatosis type II.
 * In neurofibromatosis, these are usually multiple, chain-like tumors of various sizes on many nerves.


 * The tumor usually destroys the fascicle from which it originates, the other fascicles follow the tumor and are stretched and compressed.
 * They are also of considerable size.
 * Therapy: the tumor has a capsule, the functional fascicles are usually easily separated from the capsule and only the tumor is removed.
 * Paresis may improve over time.


 * In the histological image, two variants of the tumor are visible, referred to as Antoni variant A and B. Type A is characterized by its staggered nuclei, such an arrangement is referred to as Verocay bodies. Type B shows a more myxoid character, it does not contain stapling of the nuclei. Both variants can be found in the same tumor.

Related Articles

 * Cubital tunnel syndrome
 * Carpal tunnel syndrome
 * Meralgia paraesthetica

Source

 * BENEŠ, Jiří. Studijní materiály [online]. ©2007. [cit. 2010]. < http://www.jirben.wz.cz/ >.