The Surgical Management of Symptomatic Benign Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors of the Neck and Extremities: An Experience of 442 Cases

Background: The occurrence of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) is not uncommon. The surgical excision of symptomatic benign PNSTs along with preservation of the affected nerve and its function is an ideal treatment option.

Objective: To analyze the outcome with respect to morbidity, extent of resection, and recurrence, and to review and compare our results with those reported in literature.

Methods: A retrospective review of clinical and radiological findings of 442 patients with benign PNSTs involving the neck and extremities treated surgically from 2000 to 2014 was performed.

Results: In our series, benign PNSTs involved the extremities in 290 (65.6%) patients and the brachial plexus in 146 (33%) patients, and 6 (1.4%) patients had tumors of the extracranial portion of the vagus and hypoglossal nerves in the neck. The mean age of patients was 38 yr. The presenting features were painful mass and paresthesia. Preoperative motor weakness in the extremity was noted in 15.6% of patients. The common nerves involved by the tumors were the ulnar nerve (15.8%), sciatic nerve (12.7%), and upper cervical roots (11.5%). The excision was total in 81.2%, gross total (>90%) in 17.9%, and subtotal (>50%) in 0.9% patients. In 17.6% of patients, there was severe postoperative neurogenic pain. In 28 (6.3%) patients, a new motor deficit was noted following surgery. Recurrence was seen in 2 patients in our series. The mean follow-up was 30.2 mo.

Conclusion: Benign PNSTs have excellent clinical outcome, and the goal for surgical treatment is total to gross total excision of the tumor with neural preservation.