title: Solitary localised hypertrophic neuropathy of the cauda equina.
abstract: Localised hypertrophic neuropathy (LHN) is an uncommon non-neoplastic lesion, which is rare in the central nervous system. We report a patient with LHN of the cauda equina. Pre-operatively these lesions cannot be differentiated from schwannoma or other benign tumours or expansions of the nerve roots. Treatment is generally surgical, largely to confirm the diagnosis, and examination of the surgical specimen reveals an expansion of the nerve by "onion bulb" whorls of Schwann cells (S-100 positive). Multiple lesions may be associated with the generalised diffuse hypertrophic neuropathies or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies. It should be differentiated from intraneural perineuroma, which has a similar appearance but comprises perineural cells (epithelial membrane antigen positive). Adjuvant therapy is not required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. Briony.norris@mh.org.au
authors.forename: Briony
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: Katharine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Drummond
mesh_terms: D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome