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.

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