Plexiform Schwannoma

Comments:
Plexiform schwannomas display multinodular growth pattern and make up about 5% of all schwannomas. They usually occur superficially in the skin and are rare in deep-seated locations. The linkage to Neurofibromatosis 1 or 2 is weak, unlike the strong association between plexiform neurofibroma and NF1. The tumors are more cellular than classic schwannomas and are sometimes mistaken for sarcoma arising in a plexiform neurofibroma.

The image shows a multinodular plexiform schwannoma arising in the subcutaneous tissues. Image courtesy of Dr. Jean-Christophe Fournet, Paris, France; humpath.com.