Malignant schwannoma of the digital nerve in a child. A case report

An extremely rare case of malignant schwannoma (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor) arising in the digital nerve in the right ring finger of a child is described. The patient was an 8-year-old boy who did not have neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease). He noticed a small tender mass on the tip of his right ring finger in 1991. The lesion was excised twice. However, the tumor recurred soon after each surgery. Histologic examination revealed malignant schwannoma. He eventually underwent disarticulation of the ring finger at the metacarpophalangeal joint in 1995. There was no recurrence or distant metastasis at followup in July 1999. Solitary malignant schwannomas can occur in the small peripheral nerves and in the major nerves.