Schwannoma of the Ulnar Nerve in the Elbow: A Case Report

Kim,  Doo Sup; Rah,  Jung Ho; Chung,  Hoe Jeong; Shin,  John Junghun; Hong,  Kyung Jin

doi:2014.17.4.181

Clin Shoulder Elb > Volume 17(4); 2014 > Article

Case Report

Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow 2014;17(4):181-184.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5397/CiSE.2014.17.4.181 Published online December 31, 2014.

Schwannoma of the Ulnar Nerve in the Elbow: A Case Report

Doo Sup Kim, Jung Ho Rah, Hoe Jeong Chung, John Junghun Shin, Kyung Jin Hong

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea. rah626@wonju.yonsei.ac.kr

Received: 18 November 2013 • Revised: 26 May 2014 • Accepted: 15 June 2014

Abstract

Schwannomas are soft tissue sarcomas arising from neurilemma of Schwann cells in peripheral nerves, and is the most frequent type of benign tumor found in these nerves. We report a case of a Schwannoma of the ulnar nerve in the elbow joint, and along this report, give a review of the literature. A 46-year-old male patient was hospitalized with complaints of swelling and pain in the left elbow and a tingling sensation and hypoesthesia of the fourth and fifth fingers. Physical examination of the patient showed he was positive for Tinel's sign, and magnetic resonance imaging results demonstrated the presence of a Schwannoma. Subsequent biopsy and excision of the Schwannoma was carried out. The suspected mass, which had a clear margin separating it from the healthy nerve of the medial left elbow, was removed along with its 2 x 2 x 3 cm capsule after a histological diagnosis of a Schwannoma was made. Pathophysiological results confirmed the excised mass as a Schwannoma. Schwannoma of the ulnar nerve within the elbow joint is rare and differential diagnosis is difficult. Therefore, treatment can only proceed after the presence of Schwannoma has been confirmed by physical and radiological examinations.

Key Words: Elbow joint; Ulnar nerve; Neurilemmoma; Schwannoma