A rare case of first motor branch of median nerve schwannoma

Excerpt

Schwannomas are the most common benign tumors of the neural sheaths of the peripheral nerves. Schwannomas have been reported to comprise 0.8–2.1 % of all hand tumors [1]. In the extremities, they may arise from any of the peripheral nerves with a predilection for the peroneal and ulnar nerves, while only 7 % of schwannomas involve the median nerve [2]. Schwannomas can be asymptomatic for long time. Pain is the most common complaint with schwannomas distal to the wrist; other symptoms include nocturnal paraesthesia and hypoanesthesia. The slow growth pattern of benign nerve tumors allows for adaptation of the nerve function to the pressure effects. Thus, although schwannomas can rarely induce impaired motor function, neural tumors producing motor deficits should always raise a high suspicion of malignancy [3]. Malignant schwannomas are extremely rare, accounting for only 2 % of nerve sheath tumors, and have a predilection for larger diameter peripheral nerves such as the brachial plexus or sciatic nerves [4]. …