• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2009

Background: Mediastinal neurogenic tumors are generally benign lesions and they are ideal candidates for performing resection via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). However, benign neurogenic tumors at the thoracic apex present technical problems for the surgeon because of the limited exposure of the neurovascular structures, and the optimal way to surgically access these tumors is still a matter of debate. This study aims to clarify the feasibility and safety of the VATS approach for performing surgical resection of benign apical neurogenic tumors (ANT). Material and Method: From January 1996 to September 2008, 31 patients with benign ANT (15 males/16 females, mean age: 45 years, range: 8~73), were operated on by various surgical methods: 14 VATS, 10 lateral thoracotomies, 6 cervical or cervicothoracic incisions and 1 median sternotomy. 3 patients had associated von Recklinhausen's disease. The perioperative variables and complications were retrospectively reviewed according to the surgical approaches, and the surgical results of VATS were compared with those of the other invasive surgeries. Result: In the VATS group, the histologic diagnosis was schwannoma in 9 cases, neurofibroma in 4 cases and ganglioneuroma in 1 case, and the median tumor size was 4.3 cm (range: 1.2~7.0 cm). The operation time, amount of chest tube drainage and the postoperative stay in the VATS group were significantly less than that in the other invasive surgical group (p<0.05). No conversion thoracotomy was required. There were 2 cases of Hornor's syndrome and 2 brachial plexus neuropathies in the VATS group; there was 1 case of Honor's syndrome, 1 brachial plexus neuropathy, 1 vocal cord palsy and 2 non-neurologic complications in the invasive surgical group, and all the complications developed postoperatively. The operative method was an independent predictor for postoperative neuropathies in the VATS group (that is, non-enucleation of the tumor) (p=0.029). Conclusion: The VATS approach for treating benign ANT is a less invasive, safe and feasible method. Enucleation of the tumor during the VATS procedure may be an important technique to decrease the postoperative neurological complications.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 1996

This study was peformed in order to evaluate the usefulness of the crush cytologic features and differential diagnosis between meningiomas and schwannomas in the central nervous system. Deeply seated and unusually located meningiomas and schwannomas with equivocal or erroneous frozen section diagnosis can be correctly diagnosed cytologically in crush preparations. Twenty-four meningiomas and nine schwannomas were studied by frozen section and crush preparation technique. These tumors displayed distinctive cytologic features. in meningiomas, the tumor tissue fragments were easy to crush, and the tumor cells were arranged in small clusters, flat sheets, papilla-like, whorling pattern or singly. Individual tumor cells displayed round or oval nuclei with finely granular chromatin pattern and inconspicuous small nucleoli. Occasionally psammoma bodies, nuclear pseudoinclusion or nuclear grooves were found. In schwannomas, tissue fragments were hard in consistency and difficult to crush. The crushed tissue presented as thick, irregular fragments with shard borders. The cells showed ill-defined cytoplasm and round, oval, cigar-shaped or curved nuclei. It is important to emphasize that the smear pattern under low-power view and cytologic features are helpful in discriminating between these two tumors.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.494-498
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• 2009

Schwannomas are tumors which originate from the neuroectodermal Schwann cell of cranial, intraspinal, peripheral and autonomic nerve sheaths, and they are solitary, benign, slow growing and well encapsulated neoplasm. Schwannomas are usually asymptomatic. No strong gender or age predominance exists. The incidence of extracranial schwannomas in the head and the neck region varies from 25~45%. In addition, schwannomas are rare in the maxillary sinus or buccal space. In this paper, it diagnosed and treated a 54-years old female patient, who had schwannoma in the maxillary sinus derived from infraorbital nerves, the branch of the left trigeminal nerve, and a 19-years old male patient, who had schwannoma arose in the buccal space derived from the buccal branch of the right facial nerve. There was no particular complication except sensory extinction of the nerve in the female patient and paralysis by the nerve in the male patient. It is determined those two cases of schwannoma in the rare portion is valuable and herein, it reports those with literature discussions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-330
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to report a clinical progress of treatment of sequelae caused by removal of facial schwannoma through Korean medicine. A patient was diagnosed with facial schwannoma by MRI on 4th June 2012 in local university hospital, he had right facial palsy, auditory hypersensitivity, dizziness after removal of facial schwannoma. Between 25th July 2012 and 26th January 2013, he was treated with acupuncture, cupping, electro-acupuncture every week and observed by House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system(H-B scale) and MoReSS every month. He had 29 times treatments. At the first of treatment, his state was Grade IV (H-B scale), 4/8(facial nerve grading), 10 points during action 7 points during rest(MoReSS) and he had severe facial palsy, ill-acrimation, auditory hypersensitivity. At the middle of treatment, October 2012, symptoms improved. State was Grade III (H-B scale), 5/8(facial nerve grading), 7 points during action 3 points during rest(MoReSS). Severe facial palsy improved ; Forehead creasing and union motor function recovered, he was able to close his eyes so ill-acrimation improved. At the end of treatment, January 2012, state was Grade II (H-B scale), 7.5/8(facial nerve grading), 3 points during action 1 point during rest(MoReSS). He had only occasional tinnitus and auditory hypersensitivity. Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture are estimated to be good for facial palsy after removal of facial schwannoma. More cases are required to develop treatment of facial palsy.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 1996

Neurilemmomas are the most common benign tumor of the peripheral nerve trunks, and arises from the cells in the sheath of Schwann. Neurilemmomas are well encapsulated and may be separated easily from surrounding tissue and lie completely within a larger nerve trunk, with bundles of neurofibrils spread out over the surface of the tumor. A careful dissection and retraction of the nerve bundles will allow the tumor to be enucleated from the parent nerve without any significant interference with the function of the nerve. Resection of the involved nerve is seldom necessary and should be avoided if at all possible. Our aim in microscopic excision of neurilemmoma of extremities is to reduce any disturbance of the intact neurofibrils of the parent nerve. Thirteen cases of neurilimmomas were treated by microscopic excision at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Korea University Hospital between January 1990 and March 1995. The results was as follows ; 1. The average age at surgical intervention was 40.1 years. Cases in fourth and fifth decades predominated. 2. In their anatomical distribution, 8 cases were in the upper extremity and 5 cases in the lower extremity. 11 cases were on the flexor surface. 3. On the operative field, all the tumors were well encapsulated, however 1 case of 13 was adherent to the periosteum of fibula. 4. In all cases, the tumor were enucleated from the parent nerve without any injury to nerve under high-power magnification, preserving individual fascicles, and sensory and motor function.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.890-893
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• 2011

Purpose: Schwannoma is a slow-growing, encapsulated benign peripheral nerve tumor that originates from the Schwann cell of the nerve sheath. Schwannoma most frequently involves the major nerve. Schwannoma of the foot is rare. This is a report of our experience with a small, deep-seated, and non-palpable schwannoma occurring in the foot. Methods: A 42-year-old woman presented with the plantar pain of the right foot during 2 years. Physical examination did not identified a palpable mass. She made a clinical diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and was conservatively treated 2 years ago. Since her plantar foot pain was aggravated, she was recently visited again. For the evaluation of her plantar foot pain, sonographic examination of the whole right foot was performed, and it revealed a small hypoechoic hetergenous, deep-seated mass beneath the plantar aponeurosis. At operation, a $0.7{\times}0.6{\times}0.4$ cm sized, ovoid, yellowish grey mass was removed. Results: Histology was confirmed that the mass was a benign schwannoma. There were no postoperative complications. Conclusion: Unsusual case of a schwannoma with the plantar foot pain during 2 years is presented. It should be recognized a small, deep-seated, non-palpable

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 1999

Schwannoma is a benign encapsulated nerve sheath tumor and is histologically characterized by a mixture of Antoni type A and B tissue. A preoperative diagnosis of schwannoma by fine needle aspiration cytology or by any other means is important a preserve clinically important nerves. Therefore, it is necessary to make a specific cytological diagnosis of nerve sheath tumor. However, there are a few reports regarding cytological features of schwannoma in Korea. We experienced seven cases of solitary schwannoma and here we report their characteristic cytological features with a review of literatures. The characteristic features of schwannoma on cytology were the presence of both Antonl type A and B tissue. The cytologic findings common to all cases of schwannoma generally corresponded to the histologic findings of Antoni type A tissue, consisting of fragments of tightly cohesive fascicles with variable cellularity. Dense fibrillary substances were found, along with palisading nuclei and Verocay bodies. Individual tumor cells consisted of cohesive cells haying spindle or oval nuclei, with pointed ends and Indistinct cell borders. Variation in nuclear size and shape was also present. The Antoni type B consisted of scattered wavy or short spindle cells and some histiocytes and lymphocytes in the abundant myxoid background with formation of microcysts. Immunohistochemistry for S-100 protein revealed a uniformly strong positive reaction and was helpful to make more accurate diagnosis of schwannoma.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.452-456
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• 2010

Purpose: The schwannoma is a benign peripheral nerve tumor arising from the Schwann cell of the nerve sheath. Only 2-8% of schwannomas arise in the hand and wrist. Misdiagnosis is frequent such as ganglion and neurofibroma. This article documents and clarifies the clinical features of schwannomas arising in the hand and wrist, and emphasizes importance of differential diagnosis and meticulous surgical extirpation under magnification. Methods: The author reviewed clinical features of 15 patients with pathologic final diagnosis of schwannoma developed in hand and wrist during the last 12 years from 1998 through 2009. The review included the sex, age of onset, duration, preoperative diagnosis, location, involved nerve, preoperative symptoms and. Postoperative sequelae after surgical extirpation of the lesion with magnification, or without magnification of the surgical fields. Results: The chief complaints were slow growing firm mass in all patients, and followed by pain in 40%, and paresthesia in 40% respectively. The lesions were developed solitarily in 14 patients (93%). The postoperative pathologic diagnosis and preoperative diagnosis were coincided with only in 6 patients (40%). Other preoperative diagnosis were soft tissue tumor in 4 patient (26.6%), and ganglion in 3 patients (20%), and neurofibroma in 2 patients (13%). In all patients who were undergone surgical excision under the fields of magnification, all symptoms were subsided without any sequelae. Meanwhile muscle weakness, paresthesia, hypoesthesia and /or accidental nerve resection developed after surgical excision with naked eye. Conclusion: Schwannoma in hand most commonly appears as a slow growing solitary mass with pain or paresthesia. The chance of preoperative misdiagnosis was 60% in this series. To provide good prognosis and less sequelae, careful and elaborate diagnostic efforts and meticulous surgical excision under the magnification are necessary in management of schwannoma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.118-125
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• 2000

Objective : Trigeminal neurinomas are rare tumors that may locate in the middle fossa or posterior fossa and straddled both the middle and posterior fossa, according to their origin in the nerve complex. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical presentation, operative approaches employed and outcome in 15 patients who were treated surgically, with special emphasis on surgical approach. Method : Between 1994 and 1998, a total of fifteen patients were histopathologically identified as neurinomas originating from the trigeminal nerve complex at the tumor clinic in the neuroscience center of the our university. Results : The surgical approach to these tumors depends on their anatomical location and tumor size. Six patients had tumors confined to the middle fossa, five patients had tumors limited to the posterior fossa, and four patients both in middle and posterior fossa components of their tumors. Nine neurinomas were removed via the conventional approach(pterional, subtemporal, suboccipital) and six were excised using skull base approach(transzygomatic subtemporal, orbitozygomatic, transpetrosal). Total resection of the tumor was possible in 10 cases. Total resection of tumor was accomplished in 83% of patients following skull base approach compared with 56% of patients following conventional approach. The surgical outcome was excellent or good in 13 cases, fair in one and, poor in one. There was no operative death. In the immediate postoperative period, aggravation of preoperative facial hypesthesia and 6th cranial nerve palsy were common. Although, these deficits were generally transient, eight patients remained with some degree of trigeminal hypesthesia, two had facial weakness, one neurotrophic keratitis, one diplopia, and one mastication difficulty. Conclusion : Surgical approach to the trigeminal neurinoma depends on the tumor location and tumor size. Skull base approach provides more complete tumor excision without increased morbidity compared to conventional approach. Surgeons have to be meticulous in order to reduce postoperative complication.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Schwannoma of the brachial plexus region is very rare. There has not been general agreement in terms of surgical outcome from limited number of studies. We analyzed surgical outcomes from 11 cases of schwannomas which occurred in the brachial plexus. From February 2000 to August 2009, 11 patients with schwannomas of the brachial plexus region were surgically treated by a single surgeon. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and MRI of our cases, and evaluated the neurologic deficit and the recurrence of tumors after surgery. All the cases were proven histologically as schwannomas. The mean age of the patients was 52.6(36~67) years old, 4 of them were male and 7 were female. The tumor was located in the left side in 9 patients, and right in 2. The mean postoperative follow-up was 24.7(6~78) months. Initial presentation was usually painless, palpable mass. The mass was located in various level of the brachial plexus such as root, trunk, cord, or terminal branch level. The size of mass was from $1.5{\times}1.5{\times}0.5$ cm to $11.0{\times}10.0{\times}6.0$ cm. Eight of 11 patients showed no neurologic deficit. Three patients showed postoperative neurologic deficit; two of them had transient sensory deficit, and one of them had weakness of flexor pollicis longus and 2nd flexor digitorum profundus. There were no recurrences. The schwannoma of the brachial plexus region should be considered as a curable lesion with an acceptable surgical risk of injury to neurovascular structures. With precise surgical techniques, these tumors can be removed to improve patient's symptoms with minimal morbidity.