Epithelioid schwannoma: imaging findings on radiographs, MRI, and ultrasound

Beyond schwannomas and neurofibromas: a radiological and histopathological review of lesser-known benign lesions that arise in association with peripheral nerves

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors comprise a significant percentage of both benign and malignant soft tissue tumors. The vast majority of these lesions are schwannomas and neurofibromas, which most radiologists are familiar with including the well-described multimodality imaging features. However, numerous additional often under-recognized benign entities associated with nerves exist. These rarer entities are becoming increasingly encountered with the proliferation of cross-sectional imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is important for the radiologist to have a basic understanding of these entities as many have near-pathognomonic MR imaging features as well as specific clinical presentations that when interpreted in concert, often allows for a limited differential or single best diagnosis. The ability to provide a prospective, pre-intervention diagnosis based solely on imaging and clinical presentation is crucial as several of these entities are "do not touch" lesions, for which even a biopsy may have deleterious consequences. To our knowledge, the majority of these benign entities associated with nerves have only been described in scattered case reports or small case series. Therefore, the aim of this article is to provide a radiopathologic comprehensive review of these benign entities that arise in association with nerves with a focus on characteristic MRI features, unique histopathologic findings, and entity specific clinical exam findings/presentation.

Ultrasound and MR imaging of peripheral nerve tumors: the state of the art

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors are a heterogeneous subgroup of soft tissue tumors that either arise from a peripheral nerve or show nerve sheath differentiation. On imaging, direct continuity with a neural structure or location along a typical nerve distribution represents the most important signs to suggest the diagnosis. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are the best modalities to evaluate these lesions. First, it is necessary to differentiate between a true tumor and a non-neoplastic nerve condition such as a neuroma, peripheral nerve ganglion, intraneural venous malformation, lipomatosis of nerve, or nerve focal hypertrophy. Then, with a combination of clinical features, conventional and advanced imaging appearances, it is usually possible to characterize neurogenic tumors confidently. This article reviews the features of benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, including the rare and recently described tumor types. Furthermore, other malignant neoplasms of peripheral nerves as well as non-neoplastic conditions than can mimick neurogenic tumor are herein discussed.

Highlights of the special scientific sessions of the 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Skeletal Society (ISS) 2019, Vancouver, Canada

This paper summarizes the highlights of the Scientific Sessions of the 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Skeletal Society (ISS) which was hosted in Vancouver, Canada, in September 2019.