Background: Neurilemmoma (Schwannomas) are the most common peripheral nerve tumors and usually do not undergo malignant transformation, except in some atypical cases. Additionally, the imaging appearance of schwannomas resembles that of neurofibromas, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Therefore, the clinical diagnosis and treatment of schwannomas may face certain challenges. The management and prognosis of neurilemmomas differ from their malignant counterparts, making correct diagnosis important. Objective: This study evaluates the clinical and histopathological characteristics of 45 cases of neurilemmoma. Methods: This retrospective study involves 45 cases diagnosed with cutaneous neurilemmoma at the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between April 2020 and September 2024. All cases were retrieved from medical records. Results: The age range of the 45 patients was 23 to 73 years, with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. Over half the cases occurred in individuals aged 30 to 59, with most lesions found in the extremities, predominantly in the lower limbs. Disease duration varied from 7 days to 20 years. All tumors were solitary, with diameters ranging from 0.8 cm to 8 cm. Most tumors (33/45, 73.33%) were asymptomatic, though some patients experienced symptoms like pain and numbness. Mass was the most common clinical diagnosis (33/45, 73.33%). Five patients had suspected neurilemmomas prior to surgery. Immunohistochemical staining revealed all positive results for S-100 and SOX-10 markers, while EMA staining showed a negative rate of 93.33%. Most Ki-67 values (19/23, 82.6%) were less than or equal to 5%. Conclusion: The diversity of clinical features, pathological manifestations, and immunohistochemical results of schwannoma poses a challenge to accurate diagnosis. A comprehensive understanding of its clinical and pathological characteristics is essential for accurate diagnosis, and when combined with immunohistochemical analysis, it helps avoid misdiagnosis.
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