Superficial femoral vein invasion by a benign neurofibroma in a non-neurofibromatosis patient: case report.
OBJECTIVE
Neurofibromas are benign neural sheath tumors arising from intraneural supporting cells. Such tumors are characteristic of neurofibromatosis Type I (von Recklinghausen disease) but also occur sporadically. Vascular involvement by neurofibromata is rare, but has been described in the past in the context of neurofibromatosis. There is, to our knowledge, no description of vascular involvement by a neurofibroma in a non-neurofibromatosis patient.


METHODS
A 40-year-old woman presented with a 4 year history of a right thigh mass associated with diffuse lower extremity pain. She had no other clinical manifestations of neurofibromatosis and no known family member with neurofibromatosis Type I. Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed a well-defined solid mass in the anteromedial aspect of the right thigh closely associated with the superficial femoral vein.


METHODS
The vessel segment and encapsulated mass were resected "en bloc" after proximal and distal ligation of the vein. The pathological appearance of the mass was consistent with a benign neurofibroma that had infiltrated all layers of the vessel.


CONCLUSIONS
Vessel invasion by a benign sporadic neurofibroma is a rare occurrence with potentially severe implications for the patient. It suggests that surgical removal of asymptomatic benign-appearing lesions of that type should be considered if they are adjacent to important anatomical structures.
Châtillon
Claude-Edouard
CE
Department of Neurosurgery, McGill University Health Center, Montreal Neurological Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
Guiot
Marie-Christine
MC
Corriveau
Marc-Michel
MM
Jacques
Line
L
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D017253:Neurofibromatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery