Tag: peripheral nerve sheath tumor

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Management strategies for cervical schwannomas: a comprehensive review

J Neurosurg Spine 42:650–658, 2025

The review discusses cervical schwannomas, focusing on their pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management strategies, including surgical resection and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). It emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for optimal patient outcomes and highlights the need for ongoing research.

• Cervical schwannomas are benign tumors originating from Schwann cells, often occurring in the intradural, extramedullary space of the cervical spine.

• MRI is the primary imaging modality for diagnosing schwannomas, characterized by avid Gd uptake and specific radiographic features.

• Surgical resection is the main treatment approach, with gross-total resection preferred to minimize recurrence. Various surgical techniques are available depending on tumor location.

• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a viable alternative for patients who are not surgical candidates, offering good local control and symptomatic relief.

• Histological analysis distinguishes schwannomas through specific features such as Antoni A and B areas and Verocay bodies. Immunohistochemical stains like S100 and SOX10 aid in diagnosis.

• Multidisciplinary management is crucial, integrating surgical and nonsurgical options to optimize patient outcomes and quality of life.

• Observation may be suitable for asymptomatic patients with slow-growing lesions, with regular monitoring to assess progression.

• Malignant transformation into peripheral nerve sheath tumors is rare but possible, particularly in patients with NF1.

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Need for arthrodesis following facetectomy for spinal peripheral nerve sheath tumors

J Neurosurg Spine 31:112–122, 2019

Spinal peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) are a group of rare tumors originating from the nerve and its supporting structures. Standard surgical management typically entails laminectomy with or without facetectomy to gain adequate tumor exposure. Arthrodesis is occasionally performed to maintain spinal stability and mitigate the risk of postoperative deformity, pain, or neurological deficit. However, the factors associated with the need for instrumentation in addition to PNST resection in the same setting remain unclear.

METHODS An institutional tumor registry at a tertiary care center was queried for patients treated surgically for a primary diagnosis of spinal PNST between 2002 and 2016. An analysis focused on patients in whom a facetectomy was performed during the resection. The addition of arthrodesis at the index procedure comprised the primary outcome. The authors also recorded baseline demographics, tumor characteristics, and surgery-related variables. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with increased risk of fusion surgery.

RESULTS A total of 163 patients were identified, of which 56 (32 had facetectomy with fusion, 24 had facetectomy alone) were analyzed. The median age was 48 years, and 50% of the cohort was female. Age, sex, and race, as well as tumor histology and size, were evenly distributed between patients who received facetectomy alone and those who had facetectomy and fusion. On univariate analysis, total versus subtotal facetectomy (OR 9.0, 95% CI 2.01–64.2; p = 0.009) and cervicothoracic versus other spinal region (OR 9.0, 95% CI 1.51–172.9; p = 0.048) were significantly associated with increased odds of performing immediate fusion. On multivariable analysis, only the effect of total facetectomy remained statistically significant (OR 6.75, 95% CI 1.47–48.8; p = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS The authors found that total facetectomy and cervicothoracic involvement may be highly associated with the need for concomitant arthrodesis at the time of index surgery. These findings may help surgeons to determine the best surgical planning for patients with PNST.

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