Three hundred and three patients with benign solitary neurilemomas, or schwannomas, not associated with the classical type of von Recklinghausen's disease were studied. One hundred and seventy‐two were women and 131 were men. Forty‐five percent of the tumors were seen in the extremities, and no specific area could be related to the development of these tumors. Approximately 9% of the tumors occurred in the soft tissues of the trunk and 14% in various unusual sites. Most patients were seen initially because of a painless mass; only 10 complained of pain radiating along the course of a peripheral nerve. One documented case of a malignant degeneration in a benign schwannoma has been reported. The treatment of a benign solitary neurilemoma is enucleation. Excision of a segment of a major peripheral nerve is contraindicated. The histologic features of benign peripheral nerve tumors were briefly described. The confusion regarding terminology has been discussed, and it is suggested that the term schwannoma be more frequently used. The lack of neurologic deficit in schwannomas arising in major peripheral nerves has been pointed out, and further studies have been suggested. The high association of malignant tumors in these patients has been discussed, and it is proposed that a further study be undertaken to ascertain whether these patients are more prone to develop unrelated cancers.
Ninety‐five patients with granular cell myoblastoma have been seen at Memorial Hospital from 1934‐1965. Their ages ranged from 11 months to 68 years, an average of 38.1 years. Symptoms were present from a few days to more than 5 years and principally consisted of the presence of a painless mass in 85 patients. The lesion is ubiquitous and of the 110 lesions, 51 arose in the head and neck, 19 in the arm, 24 in the chest wall and breast, 2 in the abdominal wall, 3 in the perineum, 7 in the leg, and 4 in miscellaneous sites. Multiple lesions were noted in 8 patients. Lesions varied from minute to 5.5 cm in diameter, with an average of 1.85 cm. Initial wide surgical excision was successful in 91 patients. Two more were salvaged by subsequent re‐excision. Three malignant lesions were encountered, one of which recurred and was cured by re‐excision. The other 2 failed all treatment. Follow‐up varied from 0 to 21 years with an average of 44.6 months. Granular cell myoblastoma is an uncommon lesion of uncertain histogenesis, almost universally benign and cured by adequate local resection.
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