Pelvic plexus tumors.
OBJECTIVE
Pelvic plexus tumors are unusual entities. These lesions often reach significant size prior to clinical presentation due to vague lower extremity or other symptoms refractory to exhaustive workup and the potential space of the retroperitoneum.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of 44 patients who presented to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center with pelvic plexus tumors. All such patients were included in the present study if there was at least 12 months of follow-up. Clinical evaluations were examined, including typical clinical presentation, imaging studies, and other preoperative evaluations. These tumors include 38 peripheral neural sheath tumors (86%), two malignant neural sheath tumors (5%), and four nonneural sheath tumors (9%). The authors also examined the relation of pelvic neural sheath tumors to neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).


RESULTS
Histopathological examination confirmed 18 solitary neurofibromas (41%), 12 NF1-associated neurofibromas (27%), eight schwannomas (18%), two malignant nerve sheath tumors (5%), and four other nonneural sheath tumors (9%). The other nonneural sheath tumors consisted of one each of desmoid, ganglioma, lipoma, and an unspecified calcified mass.


CONCLUSIONS
The optimal treatment for retroperitoneal lesions remains operative excision with adjunctive therapy specific to the lesion encountered.
Dafford
Kurtus
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Kim
Daniel
D
Reid
Natasha
N
Kline
David
D
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007001:Hypogastric Plexus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies