[CT morphology of malignant schwannoma]

Thirty patients with histologically confirmed malignant schwannomas were examined. In five patients the lesions were malignant neurofibromas, as part of von Recklinghausen's disease, the others were solitary malignant schwannomas. CT appearances of malignant schwannomas are variable. Shape, structure and attenuation vary considerably. Most malignant schwannomas present with the CT criteria of benign tumours. Altogether neither the solitary schwannomas, nor those associated with von Recklinghausen's disease show specific diagnostic features, whether for the primary tumour or for recurrences. Reliable information on the nature of these lesions is possible in a few cases only.