title: Perineural invasion of cutaneous malignancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perineural invasion is an important mode of tumor spread and is associated with increased aggressiveness and a propensity for recurrence among cutaneous malignancies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of cutaneous tumors exhibiting perineural invasion.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article is based on a review of the medical literature concerning tumors with perineural involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This article describes the clinical signs and histologic features of cutaneous malignancies exhibiting perineural involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate patient care mandates consideration of perineural invasion in the evaluation of cutaneous tumors. As the majority of patients present without symptoms of neural involvement, physicians must be vigilant in the search for this type of tumor spread.
authors.affiliation: Christus St. Joseph Hospital, University of Texas Health Science Center, 6655 Travis, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Feasel
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bogle
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tschen
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*