Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Weerakkody Y, Knipe H, El-Feky M, et al. Peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 20 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-41896
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Radiopaedia Events Pty Ltd, Speaker fees (past)
- Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to
not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) are a group of primary neurogenic tumors that arise from nerve sheaths outside of the central nervous system. The vast majority are benign, however, malignant transformation is seen particularly in large tumors and those associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
Markers
Many peripheral nerve sheath tumors may express somatostatin receptors 6
Their imaging appearances, demographics, treatment and prognosis vary greatly and these are therefore discussed separately.
Peripheral nerve sheath tumors may be classified as follows:
Imaging of a solitary peripheral nerve sheath tumor, in most cases, cannot reliably distinguish between the different histological subtypes, and a presumptive diagnosis must take into account the patient demographics, including pre-existing conditions (such as neurofibromatosis type 1 or neurofibromatosis type 2), the location and size of the tumor, and evidence of rapid growth. As such these are discussed separately in each of the aforementioned tumors. A number of features are, however, shared by localized neurogenic tumors of peripheral nerves.
MRI
As a group, localized peripheral nerve sheath tumors demonstrate the following features:
Considerations include 7,8:
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- 5. Li C, Huang G, Wu H et al. Differentiation of Soft Tissue Benign and Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Clin Imaging. 2008;32(2):121-7. doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2007.05.006 - Pubmed
- 6. Chow Y, Pietranico R, Mukerji A. Studies of Oxygen Binding Energy to Hemoglobin Molecule. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1975;66(4):1424-31. doi:10.1016/0006-291x(75)90518-5 - Pubmed
- 7. Lee S, Kim J, Jeong H. Benign Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor of Digit Versus Major-Nerve: Comparison of MRI Findings. PLoS One. 2020;15(3):e0230816. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0230816 - Pubmed
- 8. Lee E, Lee G, Cho W et al. Useful MRI Features for Distinguishing Benign Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors and Myxoid Tumors in the Musculoskeletal System. Investig Magn Reson Imaging. 2015;19(3):153. doi:10.13104/imri.2015.19.3.153
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