MALIGNANT GRANULAR-CELL TUMOR MIMICKING HERNIATED NUCLEUS PULPOSUS

Peripheral nerve tumors may arise in any nerve, large or small, Their presence is readily apparent when they are superficial, but when they are located in a deep nerve, symptoms can mimic the nerve root pain of herniated nucleus pulposus, This case of malignant granular cell tumo r, probably of Schwann cell origin, involved the sciatic and tibial ne rves in the popliteal fossa, Originally the pain was assumed to be pro duced by a herniated nucleus pulposus, The discovery of the mass thus was delayed, The mass gave a heterogeneous signal on magnetic resonanc e imaging studies, A peripheral origin of nerve pain should be conside red whenever pain radiates to a limb, A complete physical examination that includes palpation of the nerve to which pain is referred gives t he best clue as to the true cause of pain when a peripheral nerve tumo r is present.