title: Sciatica in a patient with unusual peripheral nerve sheath tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Other causes such as peripheral schwannomas can mimic lumbar disk disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present an unusual case of multiple nerve sheath tumors in a patient with left radicular leg pain accompanied by a Tinel sign. Initial lumbar MR imaging revealed a mass in the right lumbar plexus, side opposite the patient's symptoms. Magnetic resonance neurography subsequently revealed a compressive mass of the sciatic nerve proximal to the popliteal fossa, histologically identified as a schwannoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case emphasizes the importance of continued investigation when the radiographic findings do not correlate with the patient's history in the presence of localizing signs on physical examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. fkralick@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kralick
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koenigsberg
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology*; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012585:Sciatica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*