title: Retroperitoneal neural sheath tumors: Cleveland Clinic experience.
abstract: Retroperitoneal neural sheath tumors are a rare clinical entity with a variable and nonspecific presentation, whose accurate preoperative diagnosis often can be difficult. Since July 1984, 9 retroperitoneal neural sheath tumors, including 3 benign schwannomas, 3 malignant schwannomas and 3 neurofibromas, were evaluated at our institution. Preoperative evaluation included a computerized tomography scan in all patients and magnetic resonance imaging in 4. Magnetic resonance imaging offered better resolution and anatomical definition in certain cases. Preoperative computerized tomography-guided needle biopsy, performed in 3 patients, yielded inaccurate or inconclusive results. The 6 patients with surgically resected benign schwannomas and neurofibromas had no local recurrences and all 6 had no evidence of disease (mean followup 17.3 and 14 months, respectively). Malignant tumors, especially when associated with von Recklinghausen's disease, offered a poor prognosis. Surgical considerations include complete tumor excision with free margins of resection and proper pathological evaluation to determine biological potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio.
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Guz
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Montie
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pontes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed