Tumors of the brachial plexus.

摘要: Over a 17-year period, 56 patients with 57 tumors involving the brachial plexus were operated upon. The 40 neural sheath included 26 neurofibromas, 8 schwannomas, 4 malignant tumors, 1 fibrosarcoma, and meningioma. Nine of neurofibromas associated von Recklinghausen's disease (VRD), 2 others what was termed regionalized neurofibromatosis characterized by involvement one limb extension along course or more elements. Seventeen not origin; 7 benign 10 metastatic compressing invading plexus. Benign almost always presented pain functional deficit, whereas schwannomas often palpable mass as their only initial symptom. Patients solitary significantly older, female, likely to have tumor on right side than VRD. Solitary could be totally resected without added deficit sacrificing fascicles entering leaving that determined "nonfunctional" intraoperative nerve action potential recordings. Resection VRD sometimes but resulted in significant loss. Operation is nonetheless recommended, especially when malignancy suspected because rapidly increasing size, severe present, compression adjacent elements concern. Schwannomas non-neural can usually extirpated damage Forequarter amputation advised for intrinsic distal even though gross total resection seems feasible.