RETROPERITONEAL MALIGNANT SCHWANNOMA ARISED FROM THE FEMORAL NERVE -A CASE REPORT-

A 60-year-old man was seen at the hospital because of an abdominal tumor and sensory dysturbance of the left lower leg. A well defined and unmovable abdominal mass, measuring 20×20cm, was palpated, with spreading under the left inguinal ligament through the thigh. Sensory dysturbance of L1_??_L4 areas was found. Blood analysis showed high NSE levels. Ultrasonography revealed a solid tumor with irregular high echo levels. Dynamic CT examination visualized multinodular tumor with enhanced capsules. The first operation clarified the huge retroperitoneal tumor arised from the left femoral nerve and nerve roots of L2, 3, 4, and the tumor was removed with the left femoral nerve. Ten months later, local recurrence occurred and consequently the second operation was peformed. Seven months after the second operation, the third operation was done because of local recurrence. Since intraoperative findings revealed dissemination, a chemotherapy was added. Pathological findings included proliferation of different size of spindle and oval atypical cells, palisading pattern, and mitosis. All these data demonstrated retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma.