title: Giant schwannoma of the cauda equina: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Schwannomas arise from the neoplastic transformation of nerve sheath cells and are considered benign tumors. We report here on a 43-year-old patient seen for radiculopathic pain and loss of sphincter control. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed a giant intraspinal mass extending from L1 to L5. The patient underwent laminectomy for excision of the solitary mass and histological findings were consistent with schwannoma. Giant schwannoma of the cauda equina is a rare tumor, with variable manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey. drmturgut@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erkuş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology