ePlasty: Vol. 18
Neurofibromas on the Hands
Joseph Behrens, BS, Dave S. K. Ho, BS, Gianfranco Frojo, MD, Kashyap K. Tadisina, MD, and Bruce A. Kraemer, MD, FACS

Division of Plastic Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo

Correspondence: joseph.behrens@health.slu.edu
Keywords: hand mass, neurofibroma, neurofibromatosis, schwannoma, second palmar web space

DESCRIPTION

A 54-year-old right-hand-dominant man presented with a 2-year history of growing, painful masses that when excised measured 1×1 cm on the dorsal aspect of the left middle phalanx and 3×0.7 cm on the second palmar web space of the right hand. Pathology was consistent with neurofibromas.

QUESTIONS

1. How will a patient with multiple neurofibromas in the hands first present in the clinical setting?

2. What modalities facilitate the evaluation of a suspected neurofibroma?

3. How are neurofibromas distinguished from schwannomas in practice, as both are neural sheath tumors?

4. What are indications and possible complications considered for surgical excision of a neurofibroma?