European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SCHWANNOMA OF THE POSTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE: A RARE CAUSE OF PARESTHESIA IN FOOT

Dr. Amit Bikram Shah*, Dr. Amit Limbu and Dr. Ashbin Bhattarai

ABSTRACT

Schwannomas, also known as neurilemmoma, are the most common peripheral nerve sheath tumors originating from Schwann cells along the course of a nerve.[1] Although it can occur anywhere in the body, it is found less frequently in the lower extremities.[2] Schwannomas most commonly occur in the head and neck involving the brachial plexus and spinal nerves. The lower limbs are affected less often.[3] The diagnosis of a Schwannoma in a lower limb is often delayed for several years because it is frequently misdiagnosed as a benign solitary mass such as a ganglion, fibroma or myxoma.[4.5] This tends to occur in patients aged 30–60 years and has no race or sex predisposition.[6,7,8] The onset of symptoms is usually associated with location rather than the size of the tumor as symptoms of neural compression arise with the growth of the mass.[9]

Keywords: Tumors, posterior tibial nerve, Schwannomas.