title: Laparoscopic management of sacral nerve root schwannoma with intractable vulvococcygodynia: report of three cases and review of literature.
abstract: Herein we report the feasibility of laparoscopic resection of schwannomas of the sacral nerves roots in 3 women with intractable vulvodynia and coccygodynia. Laparoscopic en bloc resection of the sacral schwannomas was performed, with primary control of the tumor blood supply and with exposure and sparing of the sacral nerve roots. In all 3 patients, laparoscopy was successful, with minimal blood loss and without complications. Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma without malignant transformation in all 3 women. At mean follow-up of 27.66 months, no patient reported recurrence or worsening of symptoms. All patients are able to walk normally without gait aids. Primary control of the tumor blood supply during laparoscopic surgery to resect deep sacral masses reduces considerably the risk of operative hemorrhage. Compared with classic neurosurgical approaches, laparoscopic exposure of the rectum, ureters, and sacral nerve roots renders the procedure safer and easier, with less risk of postoperative functional morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology/Oncology/Neuropelveology, Hirslanden Clinic, Zürich, Switzerland. marc.possover@hirslanden.ch
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Possover
authors.forename: Plamen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kostov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003050:Coccyx; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus; D009423:Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D014844:Vulva