BENIGN NEURAL SHEATH TUMORS OF MAJOR NERVES - CHARACTERISTICS IN 119 SURGICAL CASES

Peripheral benign nerve sheath tumours are infrequent tumours and affe ct major nerve trunks, Some authors have indicated a high and prohibit ive incidence of neurological injury in resection of these lesions. Th e authors describe their findings in a retrospective study comprising 119 patients with spontaneous benign nerve sheath tumours of the perip heral nervous system. Seventy-three patients had a schwannoma, 41 had neurofibroma and 5 had plexiform neurofibroma: 25 of the 119 patients suffered from neurofibromatosis, All schwannomas were excised complete ly and the outcome of patients was 41.0% improved. 6.8% worsened, 52.0 % unchanged. Twenty-eight neurofibromas were excised completely and 13 subtotally; the outcome for patients was 19.5% improved, 19.5% worsen ed and 61% unchanged. All plexiform neurofibromas were removed subtota lly and the outcome for patients was 20% improved and 80% unchanged. T he best surgical results at average follow-up of 6 years were observed in the patients with schwannoma, the worst in those with plexiform ne urofibroma. Our results demonstrated that it is often possible to remo ve schwannomas as well as neurofibromas with an acceptable risk of inj ury to the nerve.