title: Successful enucleation of large multinodular/plexiform schwannoma of the foot and ankle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is often challenging to completely resect multinodular/plexiform schwannomas involving important deep nerves using minimally invasive surgically techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 32-year-old woman presented with a 5-year history of a slowly growing, painful mass in the medial aspect of the right ankle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated multiple nodular lesions with iso-signal intensity relative to skeletal muscle on T1-weighted sequences and heterogeneous high signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences. Mild to moderate enhancement was identified after gadolinium administration. All 58 tumors were completely enucleated using an intracapsular technique. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma consisting mainly of Antoni A areas. The burning sensation was relieved immediately after surgery. The patient had no aggravated neurological deficit and was very satisfied with the outcome of the treatment at final follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We experienced a very rare case of a large multinodular/plexiform schwannoma arising from the posterior tibial nerve and its larger terminal branch. Our case had the characteristic MRI features of this condition. It is extremely important to differentiate multinodular/plexiform schwannoma from plexiform neurofibroma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, with complete surgical enucleation being curative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI is a clinically useful modality in the evaluation and detection of deep-seated multinodular/plexiform schwannoma. Intracapsular enucleation seems to be an acceptable treatment for this peculiar tumor located in the foot and ankle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan.
authors.forename: Shun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nabeshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180 Japan.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naito
keywords: Ankle; Enucleation; Foot; MRI; Multinodular/plexiform schwannoma; Tibial nerve