title: Misdiagnosis of plexiform neurofibroma of the medial plantar nerve: case report.
abstract: Plexiform neurofibromas are benign tumors of the peripheral nerve. Diagnosis may be challenging, if they present mimicking other peripheral nerve pathologies. We report the case of a patient who had severe foot pain, which progressively hampered her walking ability, erroneously attributed to recurrent Morton's neuroma. Diagnosis of plexiform neurofibroma of her right medial plantar nerve was made 15 years after the appearance of symptoms. Pain and function recovered after radical neurotomy of the medial plantar nerve. A correct diagnosis is an essential starting point in the treatment of neurofibromas and a misdiagnosis may lead to an inappropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Surgery Unit, Fabia Mater Clinic, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Orazi
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: teresa.venditto@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Venditto
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panunzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anichini
authors.affiliation: Surgery Unit, Fabia Mater Clinic, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manzini
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tallarico
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernetti
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paoloni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D018318:Neurofibroma, Plexiform / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Foot function; Medial plantar nerve; Morton's neuroma; Plexiform neurofibroma