Isolated plexiform schwannoma of the hand

The plexiform schwannoma, a peripheral nerve sheath tumor, is a very rare entity. But dermatologists should be familiar with since they may be the first who make diagnosis possible by taking a deep biopsy.

A 24-year-old male presented with multiple asymptomatic subcutaneous nodules of the palmar side of his right hand. Histologic investigations revealed a plexiform schwannoma with numerous Antoni-A areas. There was no evidence of neurofibromatosis type 1 or 2.

Plexiform schwannoma of the hand is a rare nerve sheath tumor. In individual (symptomatic) cases hand surgery is an option that needs a critical indication. In every case histologic investigations are mandatory to confirm the diagnosis and not to overlook the malignant variant of this disease.